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The Casabrews CM5418 is a small but mighty espresso machine for the casual coffee lover
Casabrews CM5418: one-minute review
For many folks attempting to recreate the cafe experience at home, the absolute best of the best espresso machines just aren’t a practical choice.
Not only do luxury options come with a pretty crushing price tag, they also tend to be larger and offer fewer beginner-friendly modifications. Although, you could argue that this is by design; those who approach espresso as a deeply-involved hobby won’t mind trading off some extra counter space and time in exchange for perfectly dialled-in shots. Meanwhile, if your goal is a consistently pretty tasty output with very few bells and whistles, something like the Casabrews CM5418 really hits the mark.
At just $139.99 / £149.99, the CM5418 is a seriously budget-friendly espresso machine, even when compared to the rest of Casabrews’ already low-cost lineup. There are a few areas where cut corners feel like an obvious downgrade: mainly in the feel of the portafilter and the accessories the machine comes with. However, it performs consistently with the aid of its double-walled baskets, continually producing well-extracted espresso with noticeable crema that the majority of coffee enjoyers would be pleased with.
It may be worth investing in a couple of upgrades if you want to be able to pull espresso that wows, but in the meantime, you can enjoy perfectly pleasant americanos, lattes, and more from the CM5418 as is.
(Image credit: Future)Casabrews CM5418: price and availability- List price: $139.99 / £149.99 (price varies depending on color variants)
- Available in the US and UK
- Discounts available on Casabrews' website
When it comes to espresso machines that are kind to your wallet, the price of the Casabrews CM5418 is close to as good as it gets.
In the US, you can purchase the Casabrews CM5418 for $139.99 at the Casabrews site and on Amazon. Though it’s worth noting that the MSRP for colored versions is a little higher, at $169.99. The Casabrews site has regular coupon codes and sales, so you may be able to score this machine for even cheaper.
Casabrews ships to the UK as well, but all the prices are listed in US dollars. Alternatively, you can pick up the CM5418 from Amazon UK. Unfortunately, the full color range isn’t available on Amazon UK, but this won’t be an issue if you had your heart set on a silver or black version.
- Value score: 5/5
Type
Semi-automatic espresso machine
Drink options
2 (single and double espresso)
Pump pressure
20 bar
Water tank capacity
34oz / 1 liter
Steam wand
Yes, manual
Side (H x W x D)
12.28 x 5.47 x 11.97 inches / 31.19 x 13.89 x 30.14cm
Weight
8.6lb / 3.9kg
(Image credit: Future)Casabrews CM5418: design- Small-scale, charming design
- Available in seven colors
- Cheap-feeling portafilter and disappointing accessories
The Casabrews CM5418 is a compact little espresso machine that’d be right at home in small kitchens, office spaces, or even on the road in a campervan. With it coming in at under six inches wide, you really shouldn’t have any difficulty finding a home for it, even in living areas that are tight on space. What’s more, it’s exceptionally light too. So even if you do decide to store in the cupboard between uses, you’ll only have to shift 8.6lbs in and out each time.
I’d prefer to keep my machine out of the counter though, and not just for convenience’s sake; the CM5418 actually looks rather cute. The pressure gauge on the front face is not only a very practical clue of how well your espresso is extracting but also adds some visual interest to a machine lacking a LCD screen. Though this is actually inline with my own preferences, to be honest: I found the four simple, tactile buttons on the CM5418 to be far more satisfying to use than the digital displays or touchscreens found on some expensive espresso machines.
(Image credit: Future)If you fancy jazzing up your coffee station a bit, there’s a decently wide range of color options to choose from: silver, black, beige, sapphire blue, baby blue, pastel green, and pink. This is a win for anyone who’s a sucker for color coordination, but you will end up paying a $30 premium for any color other than silver. Such is the cost of beauty, I guess.
True to its lower price point, the CM5418’s build doesn’t feel composed of particular high-end materials. But, in my time testing it, I never found the slight compromise on component quality to be much of an issue. That is, with the exception of the machine’s 51mm portafilter.
Not only is the portafilter handle made from a hard plastic that really doesn’t feel especially pleasant in the hand, but the mechanism for securing the basket into it is a little unwieldy too. The standard method involves having a spring clip to maintain tension when the basket is pushed into the portafilter, but the CM5418 baskets have a notch that has to be threaded into a gap in the portafilter’s lip instead. As a result, the basket wobbles and clacks around noisily when the portafilter is moved, and it’s not difficult to disturb your puck preparation with this instability. I didn’t have any problems with the basket outright falling out of the portafilter during my tests, but it’s not hard to imagine that the looseness of the threads could occasionally lead to you accidentally sending your basket flying into your knock box.
(Image credit: Future)The CM5418 comes with a one shot basket and a two shot basket, both of which are pressurized. Casabrews’ decision to not include a non-pressurized basket says a lot about how beginner-friendly this machine is supposed to be. Instead of relying on the resistance of water traveling through your coffee puck, the extra wall in a pressurized basket does the heavy lifting when it comes to regulating extraction pressure and creating the appearance of crema. As a result, less precision is needed for a consistent output and you can even get away with using preground coffee. However, the trade off is that you just won’t achieve the same peak in flavor.
If you do find that you’d prefer to use a non-pressurized basket with your CM5418, you’re in a bit of a pickle. Not only does the machine have a relatively uncommon grouphead size of 51mm but as mentioned before, the portafilter doesn’t use a spring clip. Not even on the Casabrews website is there an option to buy single-walled baskets that are compatible with the CM5418’s stock portafilter. So, if you want to make this change, you’ll have to purchase a whole new portafilter.
Even if you don’t opt for a single-walled upgrade, there are some accessories you’ll want to pick up that aren’t covered by what you get in-box. For example, the CM5418 doesn’t come with a stainless steel jug to steam your milk in. So, if you’re going to try your hand at lattes, that’s worth chucking in your basket. A plastic tamp-scoop is included that’s extremely lightweight, and the scoop end makes it difficult to position your hand for proper tamping. It’s fine in a pinch, but definitely not ideal. For the price, these are less ‘deal breakers’ and more annoying yet understandable cut corners.
(Image credit: Future)- Design score: 3.5/5
- Quick heat-up time and simple operation
- Consistent espresso output
- Impressive steam wand
As with most entry/mid level espresso machines, the CM5418’s water is heated using a thermoblock rather than a traditional boiler. The main benefit of a thermoblock heating system (other than cutting down cost) is just how speedy it makes the preheating process. As a matter of fact, the CM5418 is ready to go in about 40 seconds. While this isn’t quite as fast as the 5-second heat up time promised from the CM5418 Pro, it’s still far from anything that would disrupt your morning routine. After all, 40 seconds isn’t the kind of wait that would get in the way of your coffee-making flow; it's like the perfect amount of time to grab your favorite mug and weigh out your beans.
Thanks to the double-walled baskets, pulling a tasty shot of espresso with the CM5418 is a lot more foolproof than it would otherwise be. Of course, the beans you choose still matter – as does your grind size, extraction time, and dosage – but pressurized baskets help to crank the difficulty meter down a bit. You’re still aiming for that bullseye although the area of the bullseye is just that bit bigger. So, while I still dealt with some fussing adjusting my grind for the best extraction, it didn’t take too much effort to get to something tasty.
(Image credit: Future)For the majority of my test shots, I used Mask of the Mire from Dark Arts Coffee. These beans yielded espresso which was nutty and sweet, if lacking in complexity just a bit. Though it’s not hard to imagine that my shots could fare better with some slight upgrades to the machine, what I had was consistently great for the basis of an americano or a milk drink …despite being a tad boring on its own.
Even right out of the box, the steam wand had a fluid range of motion that made it easy to position it at the right point in my milk jug. It’s operated by a knob on the side of the machine and responds quickly to activation, meaning you can get straight into aerating your milk without much fuss. Some other budget espresso machines like the (non Arte) DeLonghi Dedica have what’s called a panarello wand, which is best suited to making fluffy, dry cappuccino foam, but majorly falls down when it comes to creating microfoam. Meanwhile, the CM5418 has no trouble delivering velvety milk well suited to a flat white.
As mentioned before, the water (and subsequently, the steam) is heated with a thermoblock and while this makes the process faster, it does mean that pulling espresso and steaming milk can’t be done at the same time. Switching between modes takes mere seconds. So, this is really only a problem if you anticipate making multiple milk-based drinks in a row.
- 4.5/5
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
Espresso machines don't get much more affordable than this.
5/5
Design
Small, charming design in a choice of colors, but accessories feel cheap.
3.5/5
Performance
Quick to heat up, easy to use, and more consistent than many of the budget espresso machines we;ve tested.
4.5/5
Buy it ifYou’re looking for an espresso machine under $150
Putting together a coffee setup can get pricey really quick, and if you’re trying to keep costs low, it’s worth splurging most of your budget on a good grinder.
You tend to follow the same espresso recipe daily
The CM5418’s single-walled baskets and lack of temperature controls make it a little more difficult to finetune your recipe to get the very most out of a new bag of beans. If you’re a creature of habit who doesn’t experiment too much with their coffee, this shouldn’t be a problem.
You’re a fan of milk-based drinks
The CM5418 has a steam wand that does a superb job at whipping up steamed milk, foam, or microfoam. If you’re not the type to drink your espresso straight, this machine is a winner.
Don't buy it ifYour budget for an espresso machine is $250+
If you can afford to drop hundreds of dollars on an espresso machine, it’s worth considering more high-end options than the CM5418. It’s an impressive performer at its price range, but it would definitely get blown out of the water by luxury models.
You want a bean-to-cup machine
After you pick up a CM5418 (or any espresso machine for that matter), a great grinder should be the next thing on your shopping list. Though if you’d prefer to save yourself the hassle, you can always opt for a bean-to-cup machine instead.
Casabrews CM5418: also considerIf you’re unsure of whether the Casabrews CM5418 is the right espresso machine for you, it’s worth checking out these alternatives:
Breville / Sage Bambino
The Breville Bambino (or Sage Bambino, as it’s known in the UK) is a definite jump-up in price from the CM5418, but it’s still good value. This machine heats up lightning fast and is a good fit for those beginning their journey with coffee as a full-blown hobby.
Read our full Breville / Sage Bambino review
De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685
Our reigning champion in the arena of the best budget espresso machines, the DeLonghi Dedica Style EC685 is another fun-sized espresso machine that’s well-suited for beginners. It’s just a tad more expensive than the Casabrews CM5418 and less suited for producing microfoam, but it comes from a much more established brand (making upgrades and repairs an easier process).
Read our full De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 review
How I tested the Casabrews CM5418(Image credit: Future)I tested the Casabrews CM5418 over a period of four weeks, using it regularly to make black and milk-based espresso drinks.
During my tests, I alternated between using light, dark, and omni-roasted fresh espresso beans bought from specialty coffee roasters. All beans were ground using the Baratza Encore ESP, with the grind size adjusted a number of times to achieve the optimal result.
The steam wand was tested with fresh, full-fat dairy milk, semi-skimmed milk, and oat milk. After each steam, I made sure to purge and clean the wand to keep it operational. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.
First reviewed September 2025
Categories: Reviews
The Apple iPhone Air is the sexiest iPhone I’ve ever tested – it's really a new kind of Pro
Apple iPhone Air: Two-Minute Review
The iPhone Air is, to a degree, exactly what we were expecting: Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever, measuring just 5.64mm. It feels light, balanced, and durable thanks to a grade 5 titanium frame and Ceramic Shield glass. In the hand it’s sleek and refined – I’ve been using my Sky Blue unit for a week now and it’s still turning heads.
The 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is excellent: it’s an always-on display that supports ProMotion, HDR, and brightness up to 3,000 nits. It’s slightly bigger than the iPhone 17’s screen, which gives apps, text, and videos more room to breathe, and it looks great whether I’m scrolling TikTok, watching HDR movies, or just browsing outside on a sunny day.
iOS 26 feels tailor made for the Air, with its new Liquid Glass design that looks striking and complements the physical build. Messages now support custom backgrounds, typing indicators, and polls, while the Phone app and Visual Intelligence get useful upgrades. And while Siri’s full AI overhaul isn’t here yet, Apple Intelligence features are starting to appear.
The biggest trade-off comes with the camera setup: there’s just a single 48-megapixel lens on the rear of the phone. It produces sharp, natural-looking photos and impressive portraits, but you’ll miss the flexibility of a telephoto or ultrawide if you’re used to them. The selfie camera is excellent, though, with Apple’s Center Stage smarts for automatic wide and ultrawide framing, and Dual Capture is genuinely fun.
Performance from the A19 Pro is snappy and smooth, and it capably handled everything I threw at it, though the phone does get warm during fast charging or heavy gaming. Battery life is decent but not class-leading: enough for a workday, usually six to eight hours of use, with my best stretch hitting around 10 hours away from the charger. Power users may want to invest in the $99 / £99.00 / AU$159 MagSafe Battery Pack, which matches the phone’s slim profile and adds about 65% more life, but it’s an added cost.
The iPhone Air isn’t the best iPhone for photography or endurance, but as a design statement, it’s a gem. It feels like the most exciting iPhone Apple has released in years, and while it costs more than the iPhone 17 with fewer cameras and shorter battery life, it delivers value in other key areas.
Apple iPhone Air: Price and AvailabilityApple unveiled the iPhone Air at its September 9, 2025, ‘Awe Dropping’ event alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, AirPods Pro 3, and three new Apple Watches. The Air, though, stands out with its entirely new design, and is a whole new category of iPhone.
It starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799 for 256GB of storage, or you can bump that up to 512GB for $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199, or 1TB for $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,599. The iPhone Air is an eSIM-only device worldwide and comes in four colors: Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, and Space Black. I’ve been testing a 1TB iPhone Air in Sky Blue.
Apple will officially launch the iPhone Air on September 19, 2025, but it’s up for pre-order now from the company’s online store, authorized retailers, and carriers.
Apple iPhone Air: SpecsiPhone Air
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Weight:
165g
177g
206g
233g
Display:
6.5-inch OLED
6.3-inch OLED
6.3-inch OLED
6.9-inch OLED
Resolution:
2736 x 1260
2622 x 1206
2622 x 1206
2868 x 1320
Refresh rate:
120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
Peak brightness:
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
Chipset:
A19 Pro
A19
A19 Pro
A19 Pro
Rear cameras:
48MP wide (26mm, ƒ/1.6)
48MP wide (26mm, ƒ/1.6), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2)
48MP wide (24mm, ƒ/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)
48MP wide (24mm, ƒ/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)
Front camera:
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
Storage:
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Colors:
Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue
Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Apple iPhone Air: Design(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)- The freshest look that Apple has delivered in years
- Unbelievably thin and light
- Feels great in the hand with proper ergonomics
If you were following the Apple rumor cycle, we were all expecting an ultra-thin iPhone to be released – one that would potentially go thinner than the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, be more stunning than the iPhone X, and offer a truly refreshed look and feel for the iPhone. The launch event’s ‘Awe Dropping’ tagline set the bar high – and the iPhone Air cleared it with room to spare.
It’s not the first ultra-thin phone – the Galaxy S25 Edge measures in at 5.8 millimeters – but it still feels as stunning, sleek, and sexy in my hand right now after living with it for a week as it did during my brief hands-on session following the launch event. It feels as exciting as the iPhone X, in that it might give us the playbook for the modern iPhone going forward – or at least show us one half of the purportedly incoming foldable iPhone.
The photos released by Apple, and even those shot by me for this review, only do it partial justice. The iPhone Air is the best representation yet of Apple’s vision for an iPhone that’s just glass. It weighs in at just 5.82 ounces, or 165 grams, fully justifying the ‘Air’ moniker. Much like the iPhone 17 or even a Pro Max, it feels balanced – not too top-heavy, not too bottom-heavy. It’s Goldilocks ergonomics.
I don’t know if I’d quite call it awe-dropping, but the thinness is the part that gets people excited. At its thinnest, the iPhone Air is 5.64 millimeters, or 0.22 inches, and the ‘plateau’ (Apple’s new term for the camera bump) only juts out a bit more. I was instantly wowed, and over the course of a week (well, eight days now), I’ve really become accustomed to this look and feel for an iPhone.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)While conducting some testing over the week, I showed it to my brother and sister-in-law, who were both visibly impressed when holding it. They asked about durability and were a little stunned at the overall feel. Then came the questions about battery life and the camera – both of which I’ll address below – and whether the USB-C port was thinner.
On that last point – it’s still a regular USB-C port, but to fit it in this frame and get it this small, Apple’s design team started by 3D-printing a custom one. And given how thin this phone had to be, Apple went back to grade five titanium for the shell and sides of the device. To further enhance the looks, it has a polished finish. My Sky Blue review handset is different from the MacBook Air and iPad Air colors of the same name – it’s a bit lighter and pastel-like. I really like it, and the Air also comes in Light Gold, Space Black, and Cloud White.
While the innermost layer of the iPhone Air sandwich is made of that strong titanium, which can bend slightly under pressure but is designed to spring back, it’s topped and bottomed with glass and glass ceramic; specifically Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the back. The rear, like the iPhone 17, is mostly frosted matte glass, while the top bump gets the glossy finish.
Apple says the Air is three times more scratch-resistant on the front – though I’ve still been careful sliding this in and out of my front or rear jeans pockets – and the back is four times more crack-resistant.
I actually did drop it on concrete paving stones, and the iPhone Air came out completely unscathed. My dog Rosie pulled me suddenly, I dropped the Air, and it hit the ground on the top-left corner and then landed screen-down, single camera-up. Not even a scratch. Rosie was off the hook.
That incident, along with our Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff’s bend test and his fumble with the iPhone Air, gives some credence to Apple’s durability promises. Apple says the iPhone Air is more durable than any model before this and on par with the rest of the 17 lineup. In a test behind closed doors at Apple Park, I saw an iPhone Air put through the wringer, receiving a simulated force of 130 pounds, and bending and then springing back with no visible stress marks left.
It also has the same IP68 rating for resistance to dust and water as the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max – it survived a light drizzle shortly after I unboxed it at Apple Park. The weather’s been wet in my home state of Jersey, and the Air has shown no issues when being used in rain or surviving a dunk test.
Even given the extreme thinness here, you still get the usual buttons you’d expect on an iPhone. Camera Control (still not a button) has been redesigned to live on the right-hand side, and it’s slightly thinner but about the same length as on other iPhones. The power/sleep button sits slightly higher on this side, with the Action Button, volume up, and volume down on the left. The main mono speaker lives at the top with some microphones, and there are two other microphones either side of the USB-C port on the bottom.
This design does, as mentioned, only leave room for a single camera, and likely a smaller battery inside, but Apple has also dropped the SIM card slot worldwide and opted for eSIM to save some space.
The iPhone Air is stunning, attracts a lot of admiring glances, and feels like the biggest refresh in iPhone design we’ve seen in a while. Yes, it’s the same key parts, just compressed; but in use it feels like the perfect showcase for iOS 26. If you’re after Apple’s best design this year, I think it’s clearly the iPhone Air – but there's a lot more to this iPhone than just looks.
- Design score: 5 / 5
- At 6.5 inches the front is virtually all screen
- It’s on a par with the displays on the Pro and Pro Max
For $999 / £999 / AU$1,799 it would be a little mean of Apple not to include ProMotion or always-on functionality here, and the iPhone Air supports both. As a whole, the screen here is basically in line with those of the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, or 17 Pro Max.
The front of the iPhone Air is nearly all glass, except for a thin black bezel that turns into the sloped polished side. It’s a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2376 x 1260, which works out to 460 pixels per inch. It tops out at 3,000 nits of brightness when needed, supports the Wide Color P3 gamut and HDR, and features an anti-reflective coating. It also has the same Dynamic Island as the rest of the iPhone 17 line.
In daily use, the display is really the main appeal here – on paper, it’s 0.2 inches bigger diagonally than the iPhone 17 or 17 Pro, but it feels a bit more expansive. It offers more lines of text, or a slightly expanded view when viewing a webpage. Games or movies feel a little more like an event, and it offers a broad canvas for iOS 26. Lay two of these phones side by side and I think you’d have some idea of what Apple is planning to bring us with its long-rumored folding iPhone – and it would look mightily impressive, but we’re not quite there yet. And it’s still smaller than the Pro Max.
Colors looked punchy and vibrant, text was inky black and crisp, and it was a great display for daily use. I found that it got bright enough to battle the bright sunshine of California, the late summer sunshine of New Jersey and New York, as well as bright artificial lighting. I liked scrolling TikTok and Instagram Reels, or watching a video on it, mainly thanks to the super-smooth ProMotion display.
And iOS 26, with its Liquid Glass makeover, looks fantastic here.
- Display score: 5 / 5
- Liquid Glass runs well here and feels purpose-built for the design
- iOS 26 brings with it some really smart features
I have a feeling that the design team at Apple knew the Air was on the roadmap when designing Liquid Glass.
iOS 26 is running on the iPhone Air out of the box, and as on any iPhone, announces itself with a ‘Hello’ on the first boot. You’ll get a sense of the new translucent, glass-like nature of the software pretty quickly. It’s mostly visible in how notifications refract over your wallpaper or up top, with whatever is behind the element. I especially like the way the bottom menu bars look with this, although legibility can be an issue at times, depending on what’s behind the element. You’ll also notice a difference if you use light mode or dark mode.
The redesign is only a portion of iOS 26, as Apple’s latest OS introduces a number of new features. I’m keen to put many of the new parts of Messages to the test with my friends and various group chats. With the latter, you’ll now get typing indicators, and you can set a custom background for any Message group or individual. This will, I have a feeling, be an especially tough test for legibility with the Liquid Glass components. You also have the option to add polls in group messages, which is a fun way to decide on activities or maybe pick a restaurant.
The Phone app is entirely new, though you can switch back, placing your favorites up top and below that is a combined list of outgoing and incoming calls, missed calls, and even voicemails. It can be a lot to process at first, but after months on the beta I’m more or less used to it, although I have switched back to the original setup occasionally, as the new one makes voicemails a little harder to track down. You can also use Live Translation during calls, which can be helpful for international travel, and I especially like the wait-on-hold feature.
Visual Intelligence, which is engaged with a long press of Camera Control, is a bit smarter here, and can now identify events to add to your calendar and integrate with apps that add support with the API. However, we’re still waiting on the full AI-powered Siri, and many of the new Apple Intelligence features aren’t front and center here.
You can check out our full guide to iOS 26 here, as there’s a lot more to dig into.
- Software score: 4 / 5
- Single-lens 48MP Fusion camera on the rear
- You can get some impressive shots, especially portraits
- Front-facing camera is 18MP with Center Stage
This is where the compromises necessitated by the iPhone Air’s unfeasibly thin design begin: the iPhone Air only features a single, 48-megapixel Fusion camera on the back. It can shoot at 1x, a sensor crop in 2x, or a maximum digital 10x, but the quality falls off noticeably with the latter.
I’ll cut to the chase here – if you’re after the iPhone with the best cameras, or even just some variety for shooting, this is probably not it.
I was impressed with some of the shots I took, particularly the one taken from 36,000 feet out an airplane window in the gallery below – the Air captured a surprising amount of detail around the engine, wing, and even the clouds, and what appears to be a mountain in the distance. The night mode worked very well when capturing my Bernedoodle, the aforementioned Rosie, and I’m especially impressed with the Portrait mode here, and the work going on behind the scenes to deliver the right bokeh effect in the right spot.
Still, as someone who used a 16 Pro Max before this, I miss the telephoto camera, even if that wasn’t a Super Res Zoom like on a Galaxy or a Pixel; 2x isn’t a lot. The iPhone Air also doesn’t have an ultra-wide or a macro camera. If anything, it’s made me think about the types of shots I’d want to capture with a phone, and if an ultra-wide or zoom is a deal breaker for you, you’ll want to look at the 17 or the 17 Pro duo.
The 48MP Fusion camera here can capture photos at a full 48 megapixels or, by default, a 24-megapixel photo that saves space by combining a 12-megapixel shot and a 48-megapixel shot. It normally does a pretty good job of preserving colors and details, and is something that Apple’s been doing for several generations of iPhone.
The main lens here does an admirable job, and I’m quite happy with some of the images I got – particularly in portrait mode, with the camera keeping colors within a realistic range and not skewing warmer or cooler, as well as capturing plenty of the finer details.
In some cases, photos looked a bit washed out – for instance, landscapes on particularly sunny days, as when I took test shots at a botanical garden (although I was able to capture a sunflower quite nicely, other fauna, and even orange fish below a less-than-crystal-clear pond). Mostly, though, the camera can capture those more vibrant moments, such as a shot of Yankee Stadium or the sunset from a plane window.
Without a true telephoto or an ultrawide, you’re able to take more creative control to capture unique shots. You can see a full gallery of test images – standard photos at 1x or 2x, and some digital zoom ones, as well as Portraits at 1x or 2x – below.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)A new feature that takes advantage of the 18-megapixel Center Stage camera on the front and the rear camera is Dual Capture. It’s not a brand-new idea, and essentially this lets you record with the front camera and rear camera at the same time, with stabilization applied. I think it’s a lot of fun, especially for sports events, where you could capture both the on-field action and the reaction of you and your friends, and I imagine it would be a blast at concerts – I could record myself belting out Born to Run along with the Boss – but also for parents with young children.
The 18-megapixel selfie camera uses a larger image sensor than on previous iPhones, and it’s actually super helpful. Essentially, it can automatically adjust a wide or ultra-wide view so you can easily fit everyone into your selfie or video, and with the tap of a button you can rotate between vertical and horizontal without needing to physically rotate your phone. It also delivers a serious, high-quality selfie.
I’ll include some video samples below – the 48MP camera isn’t a slouch here, and performs on a par with the standard iPhone 17. The end result is either up to 1080p HD at up to 60 frames per second, or 4K at up to 60fps.
- Camera score: 4 / 5
- The iPhone Air feels responsive and fast, even with more intense workflows
- A19 Pro chip should keep it running smoothly for years
- Can get warm on the camera bump with gaming and other more intensive tasks
Powering the iPhone Air is Apple’s A19 Pro chip, which is a step up from the iPhone 17’s A19, and a slightly less powerful version of the A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, without the extra cooling technology. The A19 Pro here is a 6-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.
It’s a good lick faster than the A18 Pro or A18 found in the iPhone 16 Pro Max or 16, especially with various elements of iOS 26 – including spatializing a wallpaper – and in everyday use. Compared to the standard iPhone 17, I’d say performance is about neck and neck. The A19 Pro is arguably being used here to help regulate performance temperature.
I did notice the iPhone Air heating up during the first few days while it was still indexing and charging – especially from 0% to about 50% – before cooling as it slowed near 80%. It also warms up when multitasking with demanding apps at times.
For example, if I’m on a call and launch a game like Asphalt 9, the area around the camera housing on the rear can get noticeably warm, though it cools quickly as performance regulates. The heat doesn’t spread below the Apple logo, and a case, like Apple’s Bumper or Clear option, helps keep it from your fingertips.
Keep in mind that basically all the components do live in the plateau – including the silicon – so it makes sense that the area does heat up. When it comes to non-gaming tasks, though, the iPhone Air handles everything well, and delivers strong performance while keeping cool. That was the case with my daily workflow consisting of calls – audio and FaceTime – as well as Mail, Gmail, Slack, Safari, Chrome, Edits, Capcut, the Camera, and other apps. Even with creating a Genmoji or using Image Playground or another facet of Apple intelligence, the iPhone Air didn’t get especially warm.
In terms of quantitative testing, the iPhone Air scored slightly higher than the iPhone 17 on GeekBench 6.5, at 3,723 on single-core and 9,665 on multi-core. That’s in line with smartphones at this price range, though, as we noted in our Galaxy S25 Edge review, that phone has a thermal solution for keeping things cool.
- Performance score: 4 / 5
- It can deliver all-day battery for some, but more likely will last a full workday
- You’ll likely need to recharge it during the day
- While costly, the MagSafe Battery is a sound investment
We can only guess at the iPhone Air’s battery size for now, as Apple doesn’t officially release those numbers. It’s clear, though, that the company has squeezed as large a cell as possible inside this ultra-slim smartphone.
Instead of capacity, Apple provides viewing estimates: up to 27 hours of downloaded video playback and 22 hours of streaming. With the $99 MagSafe Battery attached, those numbers rise to 40 and 35 hours, respectively – about a 65% boost.
In my experience, the iPhone Air generally lasts through a workday – six to eight hours depending on use. That’s behind the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max, but it still meets Apple’s “all-day” standard. On one test, I took it off a charger at 7:30am and it lasted until 5:50pm, or 10 hours and 20 minutes. At best, I recorded six hours and 35 minutes of active screen time; on average, I got around four hours and 45 minutes.
During my first few fast charges, the top of the camera plateau and the area beneath it did get warm, mostly between 0% and 50%, before cooling down. This isn’t unusual for fast charging and reflects the component layout.
Power users will likely need to recharge by the time they get home. Apple’s slim MagSafe Battery nearly matches the Air’s profile, adding only a bit more thickness than the camera bump. It recharges intelligently throughout the day, manages heat well, and uses pocket detection to optimize charging times. Optional, yes – but it complements the iPhone Air experience nicely.
- Battery score: 4 / 5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
The iPhone Air is Apple’s most exciting refresh in years.
5 / 5
Display
The iPhone Air’s 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED is punchy, sharp, and smooth with ProMotion and Always-On functionality.
5 / 5
Software
iOS 26 feels tailor-made for the iPhone Air.
4 / 5
Camera
The iPhone Air relies on a single 48MP lens that delivers sharp, natural photos and impressive portraits, but lacks the versatility found on other models.
4 / 5
Performance
The iPhone Air feels fast and smooth in daily use, though it can warm up under sustained heavy gaming.
4 / 5
Battery
The iPhone Air should last a workday, but heavy users will need to recharge.
4 / 5
Value
At $999, the iPhone Air feels like a new kind of Pro – trading camera and battery versatility for design.
4 / 5
Buy it if...If you want the thinnest, lightest iPhone ever
At just 5.64 milimeters thick and 165 grams light, it’s the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, and feels great in the hand.
If you want a gorgeous, large display
If you don’t want to pay the tax of a Pro Max or a screen that big, the iPhone Air’s 6.5-inch screen is great, and it feels like an all-screen device
If you’re ready for an iPhone that feels unlike the rest
Looks are subjective, but if you want the boldest-looking iPhone in years, this might be the one to get
Don’t buy it if...You want the longest battery life
Depending on usage, the iPhone Air can struggle to make it through a full day, so those looking for a lasting performance will want to look elsewhere
You want the best cameras in an iPhone
With just a single lens, those who want a versatile set of lenses will need to look at the Pro or Pro Max
You want maximum performance
With an extra core and more thermals, the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max offer unmatched performance for extreme workflows
Apple iPhone Air: How I testedI’ve been covering smartphones for years — including iPhones since the iPhone 8 lineup — and my first personal iPhone was the 3GS. For this review, I set up the iPhone Air in Sky Blue, moving my number over from an iPhone 16 Pro Max via eSIM and starting fresh.
Over more than a week of testing, I put the Air through everyday use: calls, streaming music, gaming, watching TV and movies, capturing photos, and running my usual suite of work apps. I measured performance using both real-world applications and benchmarks, such as GeekBench 6.5, paying close attention to how it handled multitasking and more demanding workloads. For battery life, I tracked how quickly it drained during different tasks and also ran a standardized assessment.
On the camera side, I pushed the single 48MP rear lens through its paces — testing 1x, 2x crop, Portrait, and Night modes, plus video recording up to 4K at 60fps. I also spent time with the new 18MP selfie camera, trying both portraits and group shots, and had fun with Dual Capture for video.
To get a clearer sense of how it stacks up, I compared the results directly with the iPhone 17, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, Google Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra.
First reviewed September 2025.
Categories: Reviews
After a week with the iPhone 17, I'm convinced it's the best-value iPhone ever
Apple iPhone 17: Two-Minute Review
In my hands-on preview of the iPhone 17, I said it could be the best standard iPhone in years, and after a week of using Apple’s latest base model for photos, calls, work, and everything else, I can confidently confirm: this is the best standard iPhone in many years.
At $799 / £799 / AU$1,399, with double the starting storage and a laundry list of upgrades, Apple’s never made a better-value iPhone – especially compared to the 16e.
The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display is the star of the show. It’s punchy, sharp, and now buttery smooth thanks to ProMotion, plus you get Always-On functionality that’s actually useful day to day. Pair that with Apple’s new A19 chip, and the iPhone 17 feels plenty fast enough for most everyday tasks – whether you’re gaming, scrolling TikTok, or multitasking with video running in the corner.
The design doesn’t rewrite the rulebook, but it doesn’t need to. It’s still instantly recognizable as an iPhone, with a slightly bigger build, fresh colors like Sage Green, and with Camera Control and the Action Button on the sides. The phone feels comfortable in the hand and balanced, just like you’d expect. I can, however, see some folks missing the Ultra Marine or Pink Colors from the iPhone 16 lineup.
The base iPhone’s cameras have been given a serious improvement, too: both the main and ultra-wide are now 48MP, which means sharper, more color-accurate shots with less edge distortion. I really liked the new front-facing Center Stage camera as well, since it means no more selfie Tetris when you’re trying to fit in a group. And Dual Capture, which lets you record with the front and rear cameras at the same time, is one of those features that’s actually fun at a concert or ballgame.
Battery life? Solid. I consistently made it through a full day with the iPhone 17, even with the Always-On display turned on and some heavier workflows. And when it’s time to plug in, the new 40W fast charging gets you back up quickly – about 50% in 20 minutes and 80% in under an hour.
Put it all together, and the iPhone 17 feels like the iPhone most people should buy. It’s fast, fun, reliable, and continues to beat the all-important drum of delivering some Pro-level features without the Pro-level price.
If you have an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15, you probably don’t need to upgrade to the iPhone 17 unless you want a better rear camera (which only applies to iPhone 15 owners or those with a 16 who swear by the ultra-wide lens) or desperately need a Pro-level display. But if you have an iPhone 14 or older, this is the year to make the jump.
Apple iPhone 17: Price and availability- $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 starting price
- 256GB starting storage
Apple’s iPhone 17 was announced during the company’s ‘Awe Dropping’ event on September 9, 2025, alongside the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. It’s up for preorder right now and officially launches on September 19, 2025 – that’s also the date when the earliest online orders will arrive.
The iPhone 17 starts with double the starting storage of its predecessor – 256GB – , thankfully, keeps the same starting price of $799 / £799 / AU$1,399. It jumps to $999 / £999 / AU$1,799 for 512GB of storage. Apple’s offering the iPhone 17 in Sage Green, Mist Blue, Lavender, Black, or White.
Apple iPhone 17: SpecsHere are the key specs of the iPhone 17, as well as how they compare to the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup (including the iPhone 17 Air):
iPhone 17
iPhone Air
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Weight:
177g
165g
206g
233g
Display:
6.3-inch OLED
6.5-inch OLED
6.3-inch OLED
6.9-inch OLED
Resolution:
2622 x 1206
2736 x 1260
2622 x 1206
2868 x 1320
Refresh rate:
120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
Peak brightness:
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
Chipset:
A19
A19 Pro
A19 Pro
A19 Pro
Rear cameras:
48MP wide (26mm, ƒ/1.6), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2)
48MP wide (26mm, ƒ/1.6)
48MP wide (24mm, ƒ/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)
48MP wide (24mm, ƒ/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)
Front camera:
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
Storage:
256GB, 512GB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Colors:
Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender
Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Apple iPhone 17: Design(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)- No true redesign; it’s similar to the iPhone 17
- Color range is fun
- More durable year over year
Yeah, the iPhone Air is strikingly thin, and the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max look pretty different, but Apple’s staying the course with the iPhone 17 – and it makes a lot of sense.
As the entry-level model in the 2025 lineup, it feels instantly recognizable as an iPhone and looks right at home when compared to the previous iPhone 16 (or the 15 or 14 before that).
The iPhone 17 keeps largely the same dimensions, with only slight growth compared to the iPhone 16 – it’s 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95mm versus 146.7 x 71.6 x 7.8mm. So, it’s ever so slightly thicker and seven grams heavier year over year, but I doubt you’ll notice this in daily use.
Over the past week, I’ve been using the iPhone 17 – alongside the Air, which is a story for another day – and it feels every bit like a modern iPhone. While I thought the colors were a little lacking in pop during my hands-on, the Sage Green model I’ve been testing has certainly grown on me. It lacks the vibrancy of last year’s Ultra Marine iPhone 16, but I especially like how it shifts from a lighter to a darker hue as the light hits it. The 17 also comes in Mist Blue, Lavender, White, or Black, should this Sage hue not be to your taste.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)It’s also got the same color finish as the previous generation – it’s mostly a frosted back that gives a pastel-like effect, while the sides of the 17 are a matte, lighter version of the shade. It all comes together quite nicely, and the camera bump on the back – which houses the 48MP main and 48MP ultra-wide cameras – is slightly raised with a glossy, darker shade of Sage.
The left side is still home to the Action Button, which is infinitely customizable, as well as the volume up and volume down buttons. The right is where you’ll find the power/sleep button, as well as the “don’t call it a button” Camera Control cut-out. The USB-C port is on the bottom and offers one way to recharge the iPhone 17, while there’s also a MagSafe ring on the back for wireless charging.
The iPhone 17 still feels every bit like the modern iPhone we’ve come to expect and is very comfortable to use in the hand, with Apple appropriately balancing the device internally. It’s not a radical makeover, but one of the biggest changes is staring you in the face – at least when the phone’s screen is on.
- Design score: 4 / 5
- Finally, a 120Hz display
- It’s an Always-On screen
- Excellent visuals and more scratch-resistant
I think the Steve Jobs Theater gave out its loudest applause in some time when it was announced that ProMotion and Always-On functionality were arriving on the iPhone 17, and it’s probably the standout feature from my time with the device so far.
Not just as someone coming from the iPhone 16 Pro Max with an Always-On display, but also as someone who’s looking at the price – $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 – and the sea of other 120Hz-capable phones available. Either way, Apple’s provided a solution to one of the biggest qualms with the previous entry-level iPhones.
Yes, the iPhone 17’s 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display now supports ProMotion, meaning it delivers a buttery-smooth experience for scrolling, swiping, gaming, streaming, and even general navigation, as it will adjust on the fly from 1Hz all the way up to 120Hz depending on what you’re doing. The iPhone 16, 15, and 14 before it were all locked at 60Hz, which wasn’t a big deal if you weren’t coming from a 120Hz device, but this is a really nice upgrade.
There’s also a slight display size upgrade. iPhone 17’s screen is 0.2 inches bigger than the iPhone 16’s, which is the same increase awarded to the iPhone 16 Pro versus the iPhone 15 Pro. This means the iPhone 17’s display stretches much closer to the edges.
Paired with the A19 processor and the excellent vibrancy and richness of the Super Retina XDR screen, it all feels more responsive and instantaneous – whether that’s navigating the Liquid Glass world of iOS 26, playing a AAA game, or swiping through photos. I even enjoyed watching films and TV episodes on the iPhone 17; everything looked great with excellent color reproduction and smooth visuals.
The Dynamic Island is still at the top, and I especially enjoyed seeing apps like Flighty and United take it over with important travel details, the Yankees score via the Sports app, and deliveries for coffee from Uber Eats or DoorDash while writing this review. More and more apps are supporting this functionality, and I hope it’s a trend that continues. I’ll dive into the selfie camera improvements below, but they’re pretty massive and, more importantly, pure fun.
Last but not least, the other trickle-down feature – Always-On functionality. This might be more useful day in, day out than ProMotion. Just like the Pro iPhones and even the Apple Watches, the iPhone 17’s display will still show the time, your widgets (if you have them set), and notifications even when the display is not in use. This comes in seriously handy for a quick glance to see the weather, the time, or the notifications piling up.
The iPhone 17’s display story is really about the sum of its parts. ProMotion, Always-On, and a slightly larger screen make for a great experience, and there’s a serious amount of value to be found through this display alone. Oh, and it’s also coated in Ceramic Shield 2, which makes it three times as scratch-resistant as the screen on the iPhone 16 – that’s a win, especially if you're prone to dropping your iPhone.
- Display score: 5 / 5
- iOS 26 is a feature-filled upgrade
iOS 26 is officially out for the masses, and it should come as no surprise that it’s installed and running on the iPhone 17 right out of the box. It’s one of my favorite software refreshes from Apple in quite some time, with Liquid Glass at the center of it.
You’ll notice it immediately from the moment you power up the iPhone 17, with a translucent “Hello” appearing in various languages – a nice taste of the experience to come. Liquid Glass is all about clear, see-through interpretations of menus and components that stack on top of each other. This design language freshens things up and pairs nicely with the actual build of the iPhone 17. My favorite part, though, is how it handles menus: they layer instead of blocking the OS behind them.
There’s also an abundance of customization, especially with the tinting or color picking of app icons and the Lock Screen. You can choose the typeface and clock size, as well as spatialize photos to have them tilt as you move your iPhone.
Design aside, some core apps have been significantly updated. Phone is completely redone, with a main screen that now houses favorites up top, followed by calls made, received, missed, and even voicemails in a list below. It’s simpler once you get the hang of it, but the bigger win here is Call Screening and Translation during phone calls.
The former has been a major time-saver, screening unknown callers and presenting a typed-out transcript before you decide to pick up. As someone who’s had to call an airline or wait on hold with Amazon, the “hold for you” functionality is also quite nice.
While you can use Camera Control to take a photo, I prefer the long hold to scan something – to visually search it, add a date to my calendar, or identify an item. That’s part of the Visual Intelligence upgrade, and we should see more apps start to integrate with this feature. Think snapping a photo of a jacket and then using it to find the same one online.
There are plenty of other features in iOS 26, and you should check out our guide for the full list. Other software standouts on the iPhone 17 include typing indicators in group messages and the auto-transition functionality in Music. Hey, I even figured out a way to transition from a Bruce Springsteen classic to Olivia Rodrigo – talk about a skill.
- Software score: 4 / 5
- Two excellent cameras
- The upgraded ultra-wide lens is a major improvement
- Dual Capture is a fun new mode
While at a glance the two-camera setup on the iPhone 17 looks pretty similar to that of the iPhone 16, the former has been given a significant upgrade. It’s still a 48MP main camera, but that’s now paired with a 48MP ultra-wide camera, both of which are “Fusion” in Apple’s mind. The latter is upgraded from a 12MP camera on the iPhone 16, and the results deliver less warp in the corners, along with shots that are more color-accurate and richer in detail.
You can take an image or start recording video with the Camera Control or the touch interface, which is redesigned as part of iOS 26. As a whole, the iPhone 17 is a sharp shooter, and I’ve been really liking the overall image quality from both cameras. You can technically shoot at 0.5x, 1x, and 2x with digital zoom up to 10x. Results will vary with that last option, though.
With the 1x lens, you can shoot at either the full 48MP or let Apple’s “Photonic Engine” work some Fusion magic to shoot at a 24MP default size that bins every four pixels into one. The goal here is to preserve storage space – though starting storage is up to 256GB from 128GB – and still deliver excellent-looking images rich with detail and accurate colors. I think it largely succeeds here, and since the ultra-wide lens is now 48MP as well, you’ll have the same binning option, which really shines.
Not only do ultra-wide shots pack in more detail with less warping at the edges, but I find them to be more accurate in terms of what you’re capturing and the associated colors. As in years past, Apple tends to skew more toward reality with less over-saturation and a slightly cooler image. You can adjust this with Photographic Styles, Apple’s version of filters, which actually impact how the camera captures a shot.
You can see samples shot from the rear cameras below – including ultra-wide shots, main shots at 1x, digital crops at 2x, and Macro mode. The latter really lets you capture a unique angle or view of an object – especially flowers. It’s also something I missed on the iPhone Air.
As I noted in the iPhone 16 review, the iPhone 17’s main camera does a nice job of applying a bokeh effect to almost any shot with either the 24MP or 48MP output. It can enhance the overall impact of a shot, but this year I also noticed that it extends to Night mode shots, which might indicate an update to the overall processing.
My favorite camera upgrade with the iPhone 17 is on the front: the new Center Stage camera, which jumps from 12 to 18MP with a larger square sensor. That’s paired with software and algorithms to let it stretch and even rotate from a vertical to horizontal shot, depending on how many people you want to get in the photo.
This change eliminates the game of Tetris for group selfies, and it’s quick at recognizing what needs to be done. The quality is also much improved over the previous generation, and this update comes across every new iPhone – the Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max included. It’s more fun, useful, and less of a gimmick than the slofie (slow-motion selfie).
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)The other new feature of the iPhone 17’s camera is Dual Capture, which allows you to record video with the front and rear cameras – anywhere from 0.5x to 10x digital zoom – and end up with a single file. This isn’t an entirely new idea, but Apple is baking the function directly into the Camera app. It was a lot of fun to use at a baseball game – the Savannah Bananas at Yankee Stadium, if you’re interested – but I can also see the feature being a blast at concerts, when you’re belting out a song (“Born to Run,” anyone?). And it will likely be fun for families, especially with little ones.
So, while we still don’t have a Google Pixel super-zoom equivalent or a true telephoto here, the iPhone 17’s cameras can shoot among the best. You’re left with high-quality photos that don’t skew out of reality, and even though there’s no “Add Me” or “Camera Coach,” you have several capture modes to pick from and the right tools to get a great shot.
- Camera score: 4.5 / 5
- A19 chip is plenty, plenty fast
- Not a major boost over the iPhone 16, but a big improvement over older iPhones
The iPhone 17 is the debut product for a new chip from Apple, the A19. This, of course, succeeds the A18 found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. It’s not a Pro chip in name according to Apple, though it does power some previously Pro-only features and really makes the iPhone 17 responsive even with a battering of tasks thrown at it.
Apple’s A19 chip is made up of a six-core CPU – split between two performance cores and four efficiency cores – a five-core GPU with accelerators, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It’s also a 3nm chip paired with a new display engine, which makes ProMotion and Always-On a reality here.
The iPhone 17 offers great performance and screams value when you also consider that, for the same starting price as the iPhone 16, the internal storage is doubled to 256GB. That's not something you'll get from similarly priced rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 10.
You’ll have plenty of room to store photos with this beefier capacity – even 48MP captures – as well as apps, music, files, and other odds and ends. But the real appeal here is that the iPhone 17 feels fast, fluid, and responsive with pretty much any task. It also doesn’t heat up nearly as much as previous generations when using Apple Intelligence features like Visual Intelligence or Image Playground.
When taking a quick flight in Real Flight Simulator, I found the phoneresponsive even at maximum graphics and with a picture-in-picture video running. Other games, including Mini Metro, Asphalt 9, Disney Speedstorm, and Disney Dreamlight Valley, also ran well on the iPhone 17.
My core applications for personal use and work – like Slack, Gmail, Calendar, Google Meet, Instagram, TikTok, Music, Spotify, Google Drive, and many others – all ran without a hitch, and I didn’t find myself needing to close out of apps in the app drawer, even after extended use. In comparison to the A19 Pro found in the iPhone Air, these two devices were mostly on par in terms of performance. Exports could finish a little faster on Apple’s new super-slim model, likely thanks to the extra GPU core, but I didn’t find myself missing any beats on the iPhone 17.
My qualitative daily experience with the iPhone 17 also matched up with benchmarking done by the Future PLC team. The iPhone 17 scored 3,701 single-core and 9,460 multi-core on GeekBench 6.5, compared to the iPhone 16’s 3,301 single-core and 8,033 multi-core. It’s a solid improvement generation over generation, then, and present-day performance or the future is not a concern on the iPhone 17.
- Performance score: 4.5 / 5
- Like the iPhone 16, the 17 can last all day
- It now supports up to 40W fast charging when wired
Apple still isn’t sharing the battery size inside the iPhone 17 – it rarely does so for most of its products – so we’ll need to wait for a proper teardown to see the exact lithium-ion cell inside. Apple instead promises all-day battery life and a downloaded video playback time of up to 30 hours – a six-hour improvement over the iPhone 16. For streamed video, the iPhone 17 can supposedly last for up to 27 hours – a nine-hour improvement. So, maybe the extra thickness inside the phone is for a larger battery, or the A19 is just much more efficient.
Either way, it can be a little hard to translate those playback estimates into everyday use, but after a week of testing, it’s fair to say that the iPhone 17 lasted all day on a consistent basis, even with the Always-On display turned on. I managed to last from early morning to evening, even with several FaceTimes and two video exports, without needing to plug it in. That’s not quite iPhone 16 Plus battery level, though it seems as though the 17 Pro Max is succeeding that device as the battery champ.
When it is time to plug in the iPhone 17, Apple’s upped the spec; the phone now supports up to 40W fast charging. With a 40W fast charger, you can hit around 50% from zero in about 20 minutes – based on a few tests – and 80% in less than an hour.
If you’re planning to be on the road constantly shooting images, playing some games, or draining the battery with heavy workflows, you might find that you need to recharge after eight or nine hours. I did encounter that, but the faster recharge times helped mitigate this. There is, however, no official MagSafe Battery Pack for this iPhone model.
And hey, you do still get the USB-C to USB-C cable in the box. I did find that with fast charging, the iPhone 17 does get hot – not to the point of burning your fingers, but it does become warm during the initial ramp-up, then cools down as it approaches 80%.
- Battery score: 4 / 5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
A similar design to the 16, with new colors and a more durable build.
4 / 5
Display
Finally, a 120Hz Always-On screen.
5 / 5
Camera
New capture modes, plus the addition of a 48MP ultra-wide lens next to the 48MP main, make the iPhone 17’s camera setup plenty versatile.
4.5 / 5
Software
iOS 26 brings a lot of new features, and the iPhone 17 lets you use them all.
4 / 5
Performance
The A19 chip is plenty fast for now and should last well into the future.
4.5 / 5
Battery
It can still last all day, but no major improvement.
4 / 5
Value
Same price as the 16 but with double the storage and more features.
5 / 5
Buy it if...You have an older iPhone
If you’re rocking an iPhone 14 or older, you’ll likely see the most benefits from upgrading to an iPhone 17 – including better cameras on the front and back, a much-improved display, longer battery life, and better day-in, day-out performance.View Deal
You want Pro features without the tax
The iPhone 17 is the first entry-level iPhone to get both a ProMotion and an Always-On display. Let’s hope Apple keeps trickling down these features.View Deal
You want the best iPhone possible
If you want the best screen, the best cameras, or the longest-lasting iPhone, you’ll want to look at the iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max.View Deal
You want the best-looking iPhone
This is subjective, but while the iPhone 17 looks good, the iPhone Air is stunning, sexy, and sleek.View Deal
You want the most cutting-edge AI features
Apple Intelligence is still rounding itself out, but if you’re after a phone with an AI option for most things, consider the Google Pixel 10 or Pixel 10 Pro.View Deal
I’ve been reviewing phones for years, including iPhones since the iPhone 8 lineup. To complete this review, I used the iPhone 17 in Sage Green for over a week.
During that time, I tested every part of the phone – making calls, streaming music, playing games, watching shows and movies, snapping photos, and working across my usual apps. For performance, I ran both qualitative and quantitative tests, including GeekBench 6.5, and noted how the phone handled heavier tasks like gaming or multitasking. For battery life, I tracked percentage drop across a full day of use and ran a standardized test.
For the cameras, I shot extensively with the 48MP main and new 48MP ultra-wide lenses, testing 0.5x, 1x, and 2x crop, as well as Portrait, Night mode, and Macro shots. I also tried the upgraded 18MP selfie camera and Dual Capture video. To put results in context, I compared them with shots from the iPhone Air, the entire iPhone 16 lineup, Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
First reviewed September 2025.
Categories: Reviews
The DJI Mini 5 Pro is the most impressive sub-250g drone I've tested – trust me, it's definitely worth upgrading for
DJI Mini 5 Pro: one-minute review
When I tracked the seemingly constant flow of DJI Mini 5 Pro rumors ahead of its official unveil, which included exciting speculation about its sensor and safety feature upgrades, I had one question in mind: 'will it still be under 250g?'
I've now had my hands-on the latest flagship mini drone and can happily say that DJI has done it, by a whisker. The 249.9g Mini 5 Pro is officially a C0 category drone and it features a 1-inch sensor (much larger than the Mini 4 Pro's), versatile camera and class-leading safety features, now with LiDAR.
If anything, the Mini 5 Pro reads like a shrunk down DJI Air 3S. They both feature a main camera with 1-inch sensor, 4K video up to 120fps, DJI's D Log M color profiles and 14EV dynamic range.
They also both utilize omnidirectional object sensing and front-facing LiDAR for class-leading low-light flight safety features, including the superb return to home (RTH) function. Plus there's the neat 360° ActiveTrack, which keeps your subject in the center of the frame – DJI has refined this mode in the Mini 5 Pro and it performs really well.
The Mini 5 Pro's camera is super versatile, too – it sits on a 3-axis gimbal for smooth footage even in moderate wind and offers a 225 degree range of roll rotation; the upshot is that you can switch from horizontal to vertical recording at the push of a button.
Despite featuring a large 1-inch sensor and LiDAR sensing, the Mini 5 Pro still officially weighs less than 250g. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)I've only had a few days with the Mini 5 Pro so far, but I've used DJI's other mini drones extensively and can make quick judgements on just how good it really is. Honestly, it's hard to find fault.
I own the Mini 4K, DJI's cheaper entry-level drone. There are a few shared features but if you're a first time buyer, I think it's worth forking out extra for the Mini 5 Pro instead – it's a big upgrade, even over its predecessor, the Mini 4 Pro.
There's also a case for the Mini 5 Pro over the Air 3S. Sure, the weightier all-rounder has dual cameras, longer flight times and higher wind resistance, but the Mini 5 Pro now shares a lot of the same tech.
That's enough comparing for now. For me it's already simple – the DJI Mini 5 Pro is the best sub-250g drone and once my in-depth review is complete it will find its rightful place in my best drones and best beginner drones guides.
The ND filter kit with its ND 8, ND 16 and ND 32 filters, and the charging hub and two batteries behind it, plus the RC 2 controller. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)DJI Mini 5 Pro: price and release date- Standard bundle costs £679 / AU$1,119
- Two Fly More Combo kits available: with screen or screen-less controller
- No US pricing or availability at launch
Despite improved features including the larger 1-inch sensor and LiDAR, the Mini 5 Pro essentially costs the same as the Mini 4 Pro, which is two years old and which costs £10 more in the UK. Put simply, the latest model is excellent value.
The base DJI Mini 5 Pro package costs £679 / AU$1,1119. However, I would almost always go for the Fly More Combo instead (I'll explain later), which adds a charging hub and two additional batteries to the bundle.
There are two Fly More Combo bundles to choose from: one with the screen-less DJI RC-N3 controller for £869 / AU$1,419 (you'll need to connect and use your phone's display, loaded with DJI's app, for this controller), or one with the fancier DJI RC 2 controller for £979 / AU$1,699.
I've got bad news if you're in the US – there's no Mini 5 Pro pricing or availability at launch. I expect various independent retailers to get stock at some point, but pricing is an unknown.
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)DJI Mini 5 Pro: specsDJI Mini 5 Pro specsCamera:
50MP 1-inch CMOS sensor
Video resolution:
4K
Frame rates:
4K up to 120fps, Slow motion Full HD up to 240fps
Video transmission range:
04+ for 20km (FCC), 10km (CE/SRRC/MIC)
Flight modes:
Cine, Normal, Sport. 360° ActiveTrack. QuickShots (Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle and Boomerang)
Battery:
2,788mAh / up to 36 minutes flight time.
Charger type:
USB-C / Battery Charging Hub
Weight:
8.81oz / 249.9g
Dimensions:
157×95×68 mm (folded), 255×181×91 mm (unfolded)
DJI Mini 5 Pro: Design- Weighs 249.9g
- Omnidirectional object sensing and front-facing LiDAR
- 3-axis gimbal with 225 degree roll rotation range
DJI has one non-negotiable with its mini series of drones – keep the body under 250g. This latest iteration has pushed this mission to the max: the Mini 5 Pro weighs 249.9g. Technically, the takeoff weight can vary ±4g (depending on the batch you get, says DJI), so yours could be 254g. However, the Mini 5 Pro is officially classed a C0 (sub-250g) drone in Europe, so such discrepancies are a moot point.
In addition to the larger 1-inch sensor, which I'll get onto in the next section, the Mini 5 Pro adds front-facing LiDAR to omnidirectional object sensing. The latter is already a class-leading safety feature, and one you won't find in cheaper models such as DJI's own Mini 4K.
Personally, I think paying extra for object sensing is worth it – it's a miracle that my own Mini 4K is still functional after multiple collisions with tree branches and the like.
Now, with the addition of LiDAR, the Mini 5 Pro should sense better than the Mini 4 Pro in low light. That's not something I've specifically tested in this drone, yet, but the Air 3S has this feature and you feel you can push that drone harder than the Air 3 it replaced.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Tim Coleman)The camera unit impresses, too. As before, it sits on a 3-axis gimbal which smooths out your live view during flight and any recorded video. The gimbal has a versatile 225-degree range of roll rotation, enabling you to switch between horizontal and vertical capture.
I was testing the Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo RC 2 kit, which includes the controller with a screen. On the underside of the controller is a button that switches the camera between horizontal orientation (typically for long-form content) and vertical (for quick social cuts like TikTok and YouTube Shorts) with a single click.
Image 1 of 2 I had the luxury of the RC2 controller for my review. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 2And the set of ND filters, which feels like a must-have accessory. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)I also had the Mini 5 Pro with the dedicated set of three ND filters. Depending on the frame rates you choose, and the weather, you'll likely need to use one to balance exposure for video.
For example, if it's sunny and you're shooting 4K 30fps, you'll probably need an ND to avoid blowing out highlights. The practical downside is that the filters are set strengths, rather than variable (ND8, ND16 and ND32), so once you're in the air you've made your bed.
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)DJI Mini 5 Pro: Performance- 1-inch sensor delivers best-in-class image quality
- Effective 360° ActiveTrack subject tracking
- 2,788mAh battery for up to 36 minute flight time (less in reality)
The Mini 5 Pro shoots the best quality video I've seen in a sub-250g drone. It features a single camera which utilizes a 1-inch sensor for 4K 60fps video with 10-bit color depth, or slow motion recording up to 120fps, which can be upped to 240fps if you drop resolution to 1080p.
You can choose between various color profiles – a good-to-go standard look or DJI's D Log M, which needs grading. The latter gives you the most dynamic range to work with – DJI says up to 14EV – meaning you'll likely capture more tonal detail as a reward for your efforts in the editing suite.
When I compare video quality to that of the much cheaper Mini 4K drone, the 4K resolution is about where the comparison ends – the Mini 5 Pro's video quality is much better.
The camera unit is special: a 1-inch sensor, 3-axis gimbal with versatile range which covers vertical shooting (Image credit: Tim Coleman)DJI says that its 360° ActiveTrack feature has been improved. I haven't tested the Mini 5 Pro against the Mini 4 Pro, so can't vouch for this, but I have used the feature for this test and it performs really well.
I threw on my running shoes and hit the trails in my local woodland, tracked by the Mini 5 Pro, and it was able to navigate overhanging branches with ease while keeping me in the center of the frame.
Return to home (RTH) is another essential drone feature and it performed flawlessly for my Mini 5 Pro flights. This included tricky tests such as retracing its flight path through tree cover over a small lake.
As usual, DJI's range of QuickShots are present and include Boomerang and Helix. These automated flight moves can make for super-dynamic clips when used smartly.
The Mini 5 Pro is supplied with a 2,788mAh DJI Intelligent Flight Battery, which delivers flight times up to 36 minutes. The reality will almost always be less, especially when you factor in wind or the various battery-hungry features.
During moderately breezy conditions and shooting 4K 60fps video and making use of functions such as 360° ActiveTrack, I was getting more like 20 minutes in the air.
Such flight time limits are why I typically prefer the pricier Fly More Combo bundles – they are the most cost effective way to get a couple of extra batteries and effectively triple the fun.
DJI also sells an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus – the 4,680mAh unit extends flight times by around 30% versus the standard unit, but it's weightier and tips the Mini 5 Pro into the next weight category up, which comes with restrictions; legally, you need to get your region's equivalent of a competency certificate.
Image 1 of 3Straight out of camera JPEG (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 3The main camera's complete view (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 3The same scene with the 3x digital zoom employed (Image credit: Tim Coleman)DJI Mini 5 Pro: also considerDJI Mini 4K
At the opposite end of DJI's Mini series is the Mini 4K, which costs significantly less than the Mini 5 Pro – around 1/3 the price. It too shoots 4K video, is equipped with QuickShots flight moves, has decent battery life and weighs less than 250g. However, you lose out on the higher frame rates, DJI's Log color profiles, object sensing and active subject tracking. Still, its flight performance is largely the same.
See my DJI Mini 4K reviewView Deal
DJI Air 3S
If you're happy to level up from the DJI's Mini series of drones with the weightier Air 3S, for which restrictions apply, then you'll get an all-round better experience once airborne. The Air 3S has better battery life and wind resistance, plus a second telephoto camera. However, its main camera is the same as the Mini 5 Pro's, as is the 4K video skills with D Log M color profile and 14EV dynamic range. The Air 3S is also pricier, although not by a whole lot.
See our DJI Air 3S reviewView Deal
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)How I tested the DJI Mini 5 Pro- DJI loaned me the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo (RC 2)
- I had it for a few days before its launch for this first impressions review, and beyond to complete an in-depth review
- I've piloted the drone with the RC 2 controller in sunny conditions with moderate wind and tested its tracking capabilities
I had the DJI Mini 5 Pro for a few days before its unveiling, and was able to take it out for a few flights. The conditions were generally sunny or overcast, with moderate wind which provided a stern test for the Mini 5 Pro's stability.
I've controlled the drone with the RC 2 controller which features a screen. I've taken multiple 4K 60fps videos in vertical and horizontal aspects, flicked between the cine, normal and sport flight modes and tested the 360° ActiveTrack through woodland and more.
I've shot video using both standard color profiles and DJI's D Log M color profile and graded the footage. During bright conditions I've used the ND 8 filter to balance exposure. I've also taken still images in RAW and JPEG, plus utilized the 3x digital zoom.
- First reviewed: September 2025
- Read more about how we test
Categories: Reviews
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the best iPhone I've ever tested and I love it – even in Cosmic Orange
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Two-minute review
If you're looking different in your iPhone shopping journey, the iPhone 17 Pro Max (and smaller iPhone 17 Pro) has you covered. It's not just that fetching Cosmic Orange, the unexpected hue hit of Apple's 'Awe Dropping' event; Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max features a fresh design with new materials, and a broad and bold product-spanning camera plateau that adds a distinctive flair to what had become a somewhat tired design.
Inside, the changes are no less significant, from the powerful A19 Pro chip to the new vapor-chamber supported heat-management system, which enable enough performance to support every peak and valley of your experience.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)If you're fixated on cameras (as I am), the iPhone 17 Pro Max (and 17 Pro) will not disappoint. There are now finally three 48MP lenses that support a wide range of shooting styles. Perhaps the most notable of the three is the new 48MP 4x optical zoom lens that also offers access to a sensor-crop 8x zoom, which, thanks to selecting the. center pixels from the large sensor and an upgraded image pipeline, delivers some truly eye-popping photos.
This is also an upgrade that makes a canny swap of titanium for aluminum, a seeming downgrade but one with some significant benefits, like the ability to apply that amazing new anodized orange finish and the ability to better distribute and dissipate heat.
Finally, there's the price – it's the one thing you hope doesn't get an upgrade, and I'm happy to report that Apple somehow held the line here, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max still starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149. It's never been a cheap smartphone, but then this one is for the Pros, and I think they will be very happy. I know I am.
As for why you might buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max over the iPhone 17 Pro, that comes down to screen size, battery life potential, and the option to get up to 2TB of storage; otherwise, these iPhones are identical.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max review: Price and availability- Starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149
- Pre-orders opened on September 12, shipping from September 19
The iPhone 17 Pro Max was announced at Apple's 'Awe Dropping' event on September 9. Pre-orders began on September 12, and the phone arrives in stores and starts shipping on September 19.
The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,199/ £1,199 / AU$2,149 for the model with 256GB of storage, with that price rising to $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,599 for 512GB of storage, $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,999 for 1TB of storage, and $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,799 for 2TB of storage. The latter configuration represents the largest storage capacity of any iPhone ever.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Apple is likely getting undue credit for not raising the price of the base model iPhone 17 Pro Max (I'm happy they didn't, but it's not like they lowered the price). Component prices and supply-chain issues relating to the geopolitical stage are surely putting pressure on the company (and it's under continual pressure from the US to start building the iPhone in the country). Somehow, though, Apple has held the line, and the base iPhone 17 Pro Max (and 17 Pro) still starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149 for the 256GB model.
The only difference in pricing comes into play when you stretch to the phone's new upper tier of 2TB, which is only available with the Pro Max model. That sends the price up to almost $2,000. It boggles the mind that we now consider paying almost two grand for a pocket-sized device to be rational. On the other hand, this is a true pro-level smartphone that, based on my tests, is probably ready for pro photography and videography tasks – and when you put it like that, it might seem like a bargain.
Storage
US price
UK price
AU price
256GB
$1,199
£1,199
AU$2,149
512GB
$1,399
£1,399
AU$2,599
1TB
$1,599
£1,599
AU$2,999
2TB
$1,999
£1,999
AU$3,799
- Value score: 4 / 5
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Air
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Weight:
177g
165g
206g
233g
Display:
6.3-inch OLED
6.5-inch OLED
6.3-inch OLED
6.9-inch OLED
Resolution:
2622 x 1206
2736 x 1260
2622 x 1206
2868 x 1320
Refresh rate:
120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
Peak brightness:
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
Chipset:
A19
A19 Pro
A19 Pro
A19 Pro
Rear cameras:
48MP wide (26mm, f/1.6), 48MP ultra-wide (13mm, f/2.2)
48MP wide (26mm, f/1.6)
48MP wide (24mm, f/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13mm, f/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)
48MP wide (24mm, f/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13mm, f/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)
Front camera:
18MP (f/1.9)
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
18MP (f/1.9)
18MP (f/1.9)
Storage:
256GB, 512GB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Colors:
Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender
Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max review: Design- A fresh, possibly divisive look
- New materials pay dividends in colors and performance
- Still familiar in most of the best ways
I saw enough leaks in the run-up to the iPhone 17 line launch to have a pretty good idea of what was coming; and, to be honest, I was preparing to hate the iPhone 17 Pro Max redesign and colors. Yet, here I am now, quite pleased with the giant plateau (it's too big to call it a 'bump') and, yes, loving Cosmic Orange.
In many ways, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is still undoubtedly part of the long lineage of iPhones before it. There are, though, just enough new touches here to add up to what I am comfortable calling a redesign.
Starting with the back, there's the now nearly full-width plateau that's both a bold design touch but also a practical measure, in that underneath there's now more space for upgraded components like the refreshed tetraprism (think 'periscope') that supports a new, longer telephoto lens.
Most (but not all) previous iPhone backs featured just one material, usually metal or glass. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is a spiffy mix of the two: metal and glass, or rather a large rectangular Ceramic Shield cutout, with the rest a unibody chassis literally carved out of aluminum.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Instead of a titanium band surrounding a frame, components, and the front and back glass, the iPhone 17 Pro Max's back cascades seamlessly to the sides, and even curves just a bit around the front to meet the Ceramic Shield 2 screen covers, which reportedly will better protect it from scratches (we'll see). It all has an incredibly unified feel, and because Apple has radically cut down on edges, the phone feel very comfortable to hold.
When it comes to dimensions and weight, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is slightly larger and heavier that the 16 Pro Max, but I challenge anyone to notice the differences, which can be measured in fractions. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is 163mm tall by 78mm long by 8.75mm thick, and weighs 233 grams. By contrast, the 16 Pro Max was 163 x 77.6 x 8.25mm and weighed 227g.
This year there are no new buttons to contend with. Along one edge we have the long power and Siri button, and below it, Camera Control. Opposite them is the Action Button, and below that a pair of volume buttons.
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)There are small differences along the shorter edges. On top, an antenna cutout is now visible, and on the bottom, the pair of speaker grilles appear larger (yes, this phone can provide very loud and clear sound).
If you want to lie the phone flat, you'll have to place it screen-down. Even though the back plateau is nearly the full width of the phone, the tri-camera array still bumps out even further, and between this and the wide metal bump, this phone lies on its back at a slightly more extreme angle than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)The switch from titanium to aluminum provides not only some useful heat-management and energy efficiency benefits, it's also opened the door for anodized color options (the material and design upgrades did not impact the IP68 rating, and, yes, I ran the phone under water to no ill effect).
I don't know where Apple got the idea for Cosmic Orange, but I actually love it. It's bold without being garish. There's also Silver (a blah throwback) and the very deep and inky Deep Blue. Apple sort of explained its color choices to me, and even the loss of black, but I think this is just Apple mixing things up and, possibly, giving a nod to all the pro-level folks who buy this phone for creative pursuits. Orange is a color that will get you noticed.
- Design score: 5 / 5
- Excellent Super Retina XDR display
- It's brighter than ever
- A new anit-reflective coating
iOS 26's Liquid Glass interface might lead you to assume there's been some radical display overhaul; so much glow, shiny, and artificial transparency. However, that would be mostly wrong. The platform update does change the look, but it's all still working with the same materials.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max's expansive 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED is largely the same as last year's, featuring a resolution of 2868 x 1320 pixels for a density of 460ppi. The ProMotion technology still automatically ranges from 1Hz to 120Hz, and it's 'always-on', which means that even when you're in bed you can make out the time and have glanceable notifications.
It's not, though, exactly the same screen. This display now ranges up to 3,000 nits – that's 1,000 more than the last model. In my side-by-side tests, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is more visible in direct sunlight. This effect is assisted by a new reflective coating, meaning the light bouncing off the screen is also less noticeable. These are nice, and not necessarily insignificant, upgrades.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)With a narrow bezel (no change from last year), the Super Retina display comes preciously close to meeting that orange metal, with a vast expanse of color and entertainment interrupted only by the pill-shaped Dynamic Island.
Made up of the new Center Stage Camera and Face ID sensors, it remains a useful space for live information, but it's also sometimes a black blob cutout in games, videos, and photos. I find the information it provides useful, so I do not mind it much, but I was also hoping for a redesign that might have shrunk the thing by 50%. This is a minor quibble, and I'm sure that, like me, you probably won't notice or be bothered by it very much (and that, also like me, you'll appreciate the info updates).
These photos do not do the brightness capabilities justice, but the max 3000 nit iPhone 17 Pro Max is on the left, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (2000 nits) is on the right. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Otherwise, photos, videos, games, websites, productivity tools, and whatever you view on the display look fantastic. It's a butter-smooth screen when it needs to be, and thanks to the wide color and 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, images pop and blacks are as inky and dark as you would hope they'd be.
- Display score: 4.5 / 5
- Apple's best camera array ever
- Photos and videos are impressive
- Center Stage camera changes selfies forever
- This is the telephoto you've been waiting for
- Redesigned camera app will confuse and frustrate some
Apple's redesigned Plateau is not just an aesthetic choice; it's a practical one. Underneath that now larger, raised platform is a lot of technology, including a new tetraprism to support Apple's longest and highest resolution telephoto lens ever. It's simply one highlight of a stellar iPhone 17 Pro Max camera system.
There are a total of four cameras, with Apple calling the rear trio 'Fusion Cameras':
- Main: 48MP f/1.78
- Ultra-wide: 48MP f/2.2
- Telephoto: 48MP (4x optical) f/2.8
- Selfie camera: 18MP
Those specs only tell half the story. In general, you're not shooting at the full-frame 48MP resolution, or rather, you might be using all 48 million pixels to produce a high-quality 24MP (the default for the main camera) or even 12MP to produce an 8x optical-quality sensor crop (on the telephoto camera). The ultra-wide will, by default, shoot 12MP macro photos.
In virtually every instance, this is a case where less is more (or fewer pixels add up to more). Apple uses all that pixel information and its remarkable image pipeline to deliver fantastic photos with true-life colors and exquisite detail.
Image 1 of 2A telephoto shot (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 2A main camera shot (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)I spent an inordinate amount of time shooting with the 4x and 8x zoom lenses, capturing still lifes and long-distance shots. I think the flower photos I captured from a few feet away are just as impressive as the New York City skyline pictures I snapped through the window from an airplane aisle seat. Those latter are notable not only for the detail but for the speed of the lens, which somehow managed to not blur the entire shot.
Shot at 8x zoom through the window from an aisle seat (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Since 8x is equivalent, according to Apple, to a 200mm lens, the camera app helps you with a small viewfinder on top of the main one to see where in the 4x frame you're looking; it's a helpful feature for keeping the context of the frame. By the way, the optical image stabilization does a good job of holding the telephoto frame steady.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Night photography is better than ever. When I wanted to capture an image of the Twin Tower lights that NYC lights once a year on 9-11, I needed the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 8x optical quality zoom and, naturally, the image pipeline behind it to get the shot. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, which maxes out at 5x optical zoom but with just 12MP, just couldn't manage it.
There's also been a generational leap in portrait-mode photography, where I noticed visible improvements in some of the most challenging aspects of a portrait shot, like flyaway whips of hair and glasses frames. These are photos worthy of display.
Image 1 of 3My niece, her husband and all their dogs. Look at how it captured all of them (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 3Does anything look better than dogs in portrait mode? (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 3My dad. Note the excellent work on the hair and glasses. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)The selfie or TrueDepth camera is now the 18MP Center Stage Camera, and brings what might be the biggest overhaul to selfie photography since, well, the introduction of selfie cameras.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)When I set up to take a group shot with my son and father, the iPhone 17 Pro Max automatically widened the frame. Normally, I would try to awkwardly hold the phone in landscape mode, but now there's a software button I select, which instantly rotates the frame 90 degrees into landscape mode. Yes, it's a game-changer.
Image 1 of 2If you take a portrait-mode photo and want to switch the focus, it only takes a tap (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)If you don't know who's in focus on your portrait-mode shot, you can easily tap to bring someone or something else into focus. Plus, any photo can now be turned into a spatial scene, which turns the image into a stereoscopic wonder. I tried this with some selfie images in which someone was visibly seated behind me, and the results were very good.
Apple still doesn't support 8K video, but I also don't think anyone should care, since most of us are not watching 8K content (although perhaps it matters to some pros who want the editing possibilities offered by a much larger frame).
In any case, the iPhone 17 Pro Max's video capture capabilities remain excellent, with the ability to capture 4K at up to 120fps.
Image 1 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 4 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 5 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 6 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 7 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 8 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 9 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 10 of 10(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)The Center Stage Camera uses its larger and now square sensor to keep selfie video steady, even if you're moving around. I ran around to give it a challenge, and the phone still managed to smooth out most of the bumps.
One of the quirkiest new features is Dual Capture. As the name suggests, this slightly hidden feature lets you use the front and back cameras simultaneously. The rear camera provides the main action, and you appear as a live picture-in-picture window that you can drag anywhere on the screen during filming. It's fun, even if the utility is not immediately obvious. I actually had some fun using it at a wedding, but I do wish that I could edit the two streams separately post-filming.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)I'm not a pro videographer, but I was curious to try out the new Genlock feature, which is supposed to keep multiple video streams synchronized. I was able to connect an iPhone 17 Pro and the 17 Pro Max, both running a new version of Final Cut Camera, to an iPad Pro running the iPadOS 26 public beta and Final Cut Pro. The iPad app let me tap one button to simultaneously launch recording in both phones, and the resulting combined stream ended up on the iPad.
After my first try resulted in two videos that were not in perfect sync, I gave it a second shot, and made sure to check that both phones were recording audio. This worked, and now I could edit each stream while not losing the synchronization to make a pretty cool multi-cam video.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)The Camera app, by the way, is among the many redesigns you'll find in iOS 26, and I'm not sure I love it. It hides some of the camera options like Pano and Portrait, though you only have to touch the Photo button and slide it to find them again. The options button is now a tiny grid icon in the upper right-hand side that's easy to miss. We'll all learn these new controls, but we may grumble about them for a little while.
That aside, this is undoubtedly Apple's best camera array yet, offering unprecedented versatility for the iPhone line and producing stellar image quality across a range of styles.
Image 1 of 4Horses shot with the telephoto (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 4Horses with telephoto (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 4Horses with telephoto (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 4 of 4Telephoto (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)- Camera score: 5 / 5
- iOS 26 is so glassy
- Apple Intelligence has some minor updates
- Net positive updates across the board
Few things contribute to the new look and feel of the iPhone 17 lineup as much as iOS 26. Liquid glass adds a translucent sheen to almost every aspect of the platform, and mostly it's gorgeous. Apple has done an excellent job of programming pixels to look like glass.
Sometimes, though, the transparency is overdone, and I struggled to make out some interface elements. Think of it this way: when you can see through one element to view another, it can occasionally increase the overall clutter and make some things visually confusing. For example, when you swipe down on the screen to access global search, the search box still faintly shows what's behind it, which makes what's on top of it – what you're typing – a little harder to read. It's a small issue that Apple could easily address in the next iOS update.
In some cases, though, like the new first-party app icons, Control Center, and dock, iOS 26 is a welcome update that gives everything a little polish without throwing out the most recognizable elements.
Apple Intelligence gets a few updates, like Live Translation and the ability for images captured through Visual Intelligence to be transformed into calendar entries. I played a bit with Genmoji and Image Playground to experience those upgrades, but they're mostly minor, and I still await the fully-featured Siri that Apple has promised.
- Software score: 4.5 / 5
- A19 Pro raises the bar, again
- 12GB leaves headroom for future Apple Intelligence performance improvements
- The new heat management system is a winner
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max might represent the most radical redesign of the iPhone in terms of internal components we've seen in quite some time.
In a way, Apple's external changes (replacing titanium with aluminum) are directly connected to those updates.
Let's start, though, with the A19 Pro chip, which is now supported by 12GB of RAM. It's a formidable combo, and in our benchmarks it raised the bar for single and multi-core Geekbench scores while also boosting things like frame rates in games.
The A19 features a 6-core CPU and GPUs. On the GPU side, each core features its own Neural accelerator.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)It's a system that ably handles 4K video editing and AAA game play with equal aplomb. In games like Destiny Rising, reflections and atmospherics, like fog and smoke, match what you might see on a console.
What's more remarkable, though, is that as you do all this, the phone remains relatively cool, and even if it gets a bit warmer in general, there's no one identifiable hot spot. That's down to the new heat management system, which includes a long and narrow vapor chamber that sits on top of the A19 Pro, which is placed near the center of the iPhone 17 Pro Max's body. As the A19 Pro heats up, the water inside the vapor chamber absorbs the heat, vaporizing the water, which then condenses on the other end of the chamber. The process repeats continuously to manage and transfer the heat out across the chassis and to the more heat-efficient aluminum frame.
It's that kind of heat management that helps the phone maintain a high level of performance and, in my estimation, positively impacts battery life.
- Performance score: 5 / 5
- Better battery life than ever
- Qi 2 support
- Spend for the faster adapter
Apple combines that power and efficiency with a larger battery to provide, potentially, multi-day battery life.
Now, in my experience, I went over 30 hours (it's rated for 39 hours) before I needed to charge the phone. However, I think it's too early to make a final assessment on battery life. I know my phone is busy copying 30,000 emails, updating photo libraries, and more background tasks relating to initial setup.
In truth, I don't think I'll fully understand typical battery life for another month. In the meantime, I can tell you that battery life appears good, if not better, than the last generation, and your mileage may vary.
Expect Q2 wireless charging, which, if you have a Qi2 charger, will be faster. The wired charging is faster, too, but remember you'll need to buy your own higher-wattage wall charger (a $39 40W-to-60W adaptive charger) to achieve those charge speeds. In my experience, I was able to charge the phone to 50% in just 20 minutes. Too bad this adapter (and not just the USB-C charge cable) isn't included in the package.
In the communication space, this is, in the US, an eSIM-only phone that supports dual-SIMs and makes transferring phone numbers across devices a snap. There's more good news, like WiFi 7 support, Bluetooth 6, and Emergency Satellite communication, which, at the time of this writing, is still free.
- Battery score: 4.5 / 5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
More power, fresh design and better camera while holding the line on price.
4 / 5
Design
New look, materials, and color while still undeniably iPhone.
5 / 5
Display
Apple holds the line on its display technology but enhances it just enough with a brighter and more resilient screen.
4.5 / 5
Software
iOS 26 brings Liquid Glass to virtually every corner of the iPhone with mostly positive results. We could do with some less translucency in a few spots. Apple Intelligence improves but we await the full-boat Siri experience.
4.5 / 5
Camera
Three fantastic cameras produce eye-popping images across a range of shooting styles. Happiness is the new 4x/8x zoom lens.
5 / 5
Performance
Apple's A19 Pro chip is fast and effective in every scenario. It may be especially adept at local AI operations. The new heat management system helps keep the system relatively cool to the touch.
5 / 5
Battery
Anecdotal battery tests provided 30-hours plus of battery but lab tests are lower.
4.5 / 5
Buy it if...You want the best iPhone
There's no question that this is the best iPhone Apple has ever produced and while the iPhone 17 Pro is essentially the same phone, this is the one that offers the biggest screen and best battery life.
You want pro-level photography
Apple may not always beat competitors on the pure megapixel front but this phone produces some of the bets photos I have ever seen from a smartphone.
You were looking for a more affordable iPhone
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is no more expensive than its predecessor but that doesn't make it cheap. If you want the same performance for less, check out the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
You want the ultimate in AI
Apple Intelligence is a decent start in the AI space, but it pales in comparison to Google Gemini (found on Pixel phones) and GalaxyAI (and Gemini) on Samsung Galaxy AI.
Apple's latest flagship iPhone not exciting you? Here are three alternatives from the Android frontier.
Google Pixel 10 Pro
The Pixel 10 Pro is a fantastic addition to the Pixel line, with useful new features like magnetic charging and AI tools that are helpful and not overbearing. There is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of performance and battery life, but this is one of the best smartphones you can buy, aside from the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
For powerful versatility a surprisingly thin and light frame, nothing beats the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. It has excellent cameras, two screens, and powerful AI features. It's also considerably more expensive that the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung's ultimate Android phone is a welcome mixure of design and power that, yes, still brings the titanium. Ther'es also that 200MP sensor, something the iPhone 17 Pro Max still doesn't boast.
- Review test period: I received the phone on September 9 and tested it through September 16.
- Testing included: everyday use, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback, and testing Apple Intelligence
- Tools used: Geekbench 6, Geekbench AI, 3DMark
I tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max (and iPhone 17 Pro) alongside my iPhone 16 Pro Max. I took it with me everywhere and tried to use it as I would my own phone.
I've been testing smartphones for over 20 years, and I've been writing about the iPhone since it launched. I've also been tracking and writing about AI since the dawn of consumer-grade experiences more than a decade ago, and I've been covering technology for 39 years.
First reviewed September 2025
Categories: Reviews
I tested Apple's iPhone 17 Pro, and I love its fresh style, powerful cameras and long battery life in a pocket-friendly form
Apple iPhone 17 Pro: Two-minute review
The time when you had to make a tradeoff between the full-featured iPhone Pro Max and the iPhone Pro has long since passed. Today, the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 17 Pro I'm reviewing here are fundamentally the same phone with only a few differences, and all of them relate to the size.
There's a smaller screen and therefore fewer pixels (but not a lower resolution). The battery on the iPhone 17 Pro is smaller, so you get fewer hours per charge. Finally, the storage options on the Pro top out at 1TB, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max goes up to 2TB.
With that in mind, virtually everything I say in my iPhone 17 Pro Max review is also true of this iPhone 17 Pro, right down to the fantastic camera system.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)This update is an inside-out refashioning, with a powerful new A19 Processor supported by a heat-wicking system in the form of a vapor chamber. I'm not sure it would have been as effective though, if not for the new aluminum unibody design, which helps distribute the heat throughout the chassis.
A reorganization of the components left more room for a larger battery, and that, in concert with the heat management system and new body, promises better battery life than before.
Inside, the A19 Pro makes every operation a breeze, as it easily handles everything from simple web browsing to 4K video editing and local AI operations.
We now get three 48MP cameras, including a stellar 4x optical zoom that's capable of an 8x optical sensor crop which also produces fantastic results.
The fact that you get all this in a more affordable and pocketable 6.3-inch package could make the iPhone 17 Pro the best choice for most who operate at a pro level.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Price and availability- Starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,999
- Pre-orders opened on September 12, shipping from September 19
Apple announced the iPhone 17 Pro at its 'Awe Dropping' event on September 9, and alongside the iPhone Air, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. iPhone 17 Pro pre-orders began on September 12, and the new phone ships on September 19.
The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,999 for the model with 256GB of storage, with that price rising to $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,399 for 512GB of storage, and $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,799 for 1TB of storage. If you need a 2TB device, look at the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Storage
US price
UK price
AU price
256GB
$1,099
£1,099
AU$1,999
512GB
$1,299
£1,299
AU$2,399
1TB
$1,499
£1,499
AU$2,799
sdsfsw
- Value score: 5 / 5
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Air
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Weight:
177g
165g
206g
233g
Display:
6.3-inch OLED
6.5-inch OLED
6.3-inch OLED
6.9-inch OLED
Resolution:
2622 x 1206
2736 x 1260
2622 x 1206
2868 x 1320
Refresh rate:
120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
Peak brightness:
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
3,000 nits
Chipset:
A19
A19 Pro
A19 Pro
A19 Pro
Rear cameras:
48MP wide (26mm, f/1.6), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, f/2.2)
48MP wide (26mm, f/1.6)
48MP wide (24mm, ƒ/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)
48MP wide (24mm, ƒ/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)
Front camera:
18MP (f/1.9)
18MP (f/1.9)
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
18MP (ƒ/1.9)
Storage:
256GB, 512GB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Colors:
Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender
Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Design- A redesign that works
- New materials bring new color and cooling possibilities
- Control and Action Buttons didn't get a rethink
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro (and the 17 Pro Max) is instantly recognizable as an iPhone, but I still contend that this is the most significant redesign in ages. The bold, nearly full-width plateau (time to stop calling it a "camera bump") is distinctive and more attractive than I expected.
Honestly, who needs a phone that can lie flat on its back anymore? I'd argue that consumers (yes, people like me) are more interested in performance and possibilities than balance.
I was curious about the switch from titanium (a light and sturdy material) to aluminum (an even lighter and perhaps more pliable one), but I'm now convinced that this was a good swap with some obvious benefits.
The first of those is the color choices. You have silver (not that exciting), the wonderful Deep Blue of the phone I tested, and the new Cosmic Orange of my iPhone 17 Pro Max test unit. I love the latter two colors, and don't think they would have been possible without the anodization process.
Because the iPhone body is carved out of aluminum means the iPhone 17 Pro has smoother corners, making the entire phone feel more comfortable in my hands. This smaller phone will be especially appealing to those with smaller hands.
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Below the camera plateau on the Ceramic Shield-protected back (the screen gets Ceramic Shield 2), the large rectangular cutout that houses the Apple logo creates a sort of two-tone look that I rather like. It almost seems a shame to cover it with Apple's new Tech Woven cases.
After a couple of generations of us having to get used to new iPhone buttons, the iPhone 17 Pro holds fast on the two volume buttons and the Action Button on one side, and the Power/Sleep/Siri button and Camera Control button on the other.
There's no new functionality there, but some may still find the customizable Action button and instant access to photography and controls through Camera Control useful; of the two, I use the Camera Control most for instant access to the camera and, sometimes, as a physical shutter button.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Like the iPhone 16 Pro before it, the iPhone 17 Pro is IP68 rated for exposure to dust and water. Drop it in the toilet (which I did not) or run it under water (which I did), and it will survive.
There are a few other minor differences, like an antenna cutout on the top edge and a larger speaker grille on one side of the base. Perhaps that's why the audio can get so loud and resonant, and sound just as good in a voice call as it does streaming Better Call Saul on Netflix.
- Design score: 5 / 5
- Super Retina XDR display still excellent
- Brighter than ever
- Possibly more resilient
While Apple took pains to remake the look and lines of the iPhone 17 Pro (and 17 Pro Max), it more or less left well enough alone with the Super Retina XDR display. This is not a problem, since the OLED screen resolution, at 2622 x 1206 pixels, is still sharp and spectacular in almost every scenario.
Photos and videos look splendid on the screen thanks in part to its 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and wide color gamut. It's a great platform for stills and for fast action in AAA games, where the 120Hz screen refresh keeps gameplay butter smooth.
Image 1 of 2The iPhone 17 Pro in direct sunlight. I think the antireflective coating makes a noticeable difference (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 2iPhone 16 Pro in direct sunlight (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)The ProMotion technology not only provides that rapid refresh rate, it can slow all the way down to 1Hz to support the always-on display, which lets me see the time and my notifications on the sleep/lock screen.
This is a brighter screen, achieving 3,000 nits in direct sunlight. That combination with a new anti-reflective coating helped it beat the iPhone 16 Pro in my outdoor, direct-sunlight Netflix streaming tests.
As for the new Ceramic Shield 2 screen covering, I'm hesitant to rub any keys on it, but I will be curious to see what the display looks like two months from now.
The 6.3-inch display still features the Dynamic Island cutout, which provides space for the Face ID sensors and new Center Stage Camera. It's still larger than I'd like, and appears in some games and videos as a black, pill-shaped cutout. If, though, like me you appreciate the live information (like sports scores) that the space can provide, I doubt you'll be bothered by its existence.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)- Display score: 4.5 / 5
- Three excellent rear 48MP cameras
- Zoom is finally where I need it to be
- Front-facing Center Stage Camera changes the selfie game
Apple has rewarded my fixation on photography with the three best 48MP lenses I've ever seen on an iPhone (plus an excellent new selfie camera). The list of lenses is identical across both Pro phones, which makes them no less desirable. FWIW, Camera performance on the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max appears identical. Here's the list of physical lenses.
- Main: 48MP f/1.78
- Ultra-wide: 48MP f/2.2
- Telephoto: 48MP (4x optical) f/2.8
- Selfie camera: 18MP (not called 'Fusion')
The main camera defaults to shooting at 24MP, but you can shoot at full resolution or as a 2x optical sensor crop, which takes the best 12MP from the full 48MP for the final image.
The ultrawide also defaults to 24MP, while the same lens will shoot macro images at 12MP.
For me, though, the most exciting addition is the new 48MP 4x optical zoom lens that shoots 24MP, 100mm-equivalent photos and can, with another optical sensor crop, also shoot 12MP, 8x zoom photos. Even though the latter is not a true 8x optical zoom lens, it captures images like one.
Image 1 of 5Running through the lenses and zoom options (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)I was consistently impressed with the detail I could capture. In my experience, the best lens of the bunch is the 4x optical. It's great for portraits and still life.
The image quality across the multiple lenses and shooting styles is down, in part, to Apple's fantastic image pipeline. It gathers and processes so much information, but never turns an image into AI mush or an approximation. Images come alive with true colors and exquisite detail.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Portrait-mode photography looks better than ever. I was especially impressed with how the cameras handled hair and glasses frames. Every shot looked pro-quality.
I took the landscape on the left using Center Stage Camera without turning the phone 90-degrees. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)The other major photographic highlight is the new Center Stage Selfie camera. Where the True Depth Camera was an able 12MP system, the Center Stage Camera is backed by a square 18MP sensor. It uses those extra pixels to automatically fit groups of subjects into the frame by zooming out a bit.
Better yet, this is the first smartphone selfie camera in my experience to let you turn from a portrait to a landscape mode selfie without turning the phone 90 degrees. Instead, you just tap a software button – and, yes, it works with photos and video. It's brilliant, and I expect other smartphone competitors to follow suit.
Image 1 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 4 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 5 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 6 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 7 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 8 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 9 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 10 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 11 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 12 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 13 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 14 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 15 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 16 of 16(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)I shot in all kinds of lighting conditions, from bright and sunny to cloudy, rainy, and even nighttime darkness. Night photography is even better than ever. This was the phone I used to capture New York City's 9-11 Memorial Lights (the city is 50 miles away). It was a feat I could not reproduce with the iPhone 16 Pro.
I love selfies in the rain, and I was particularly impressed with the Center Stage Camera's ability to capture individual raindrops (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)You can shoot video in 4K (up to 120fps). It looks good, especially because the sensor-shift optical image stabilization handles even the roughest road.
During my first day with the phone, there was a huge rain shower, which I took as my cue to retry Audio Mix, Apple's AI-powered audio cleanup tool. The rain shower was so loud that it pretty much overwhelmed my baseline video. All I had to do was select one of the options (In-Frame, Studio, Cinematic), and the iPhone 17 Pro did an excellent job of elevating my voice over the din. It does sound a bit processed, but also usable, which is not something I can say of the original video.
One other new feature you might enjoy (or you might wonder why it's there) is Dual Camera. As the name suggests, this slightly hidden feature lets you shoot video with both the front and rear cameras. Your selfie video view appears as a small, movable window on top of the main video, presumably so you can offer commentary on the action. I used it at a wedding and found it fun, if not super-useful.
Image 1 of 1Put yourself in the video with dual cam (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)The new camera app is so different that it might, at first, confuse people. A lot of what you would normally see when first opening the app is hidden. But, for instance, a touch and slide on the word 'Photo' quickly reveals how you can slide to find all your main photography options.
In short, you will get used to it.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)As a package, this is by far the best camera array (including the front camera) Apple has ever produced. It shoots fantastic images that will make you the envy of all your friends. Plus, with its 4K Dolby Vision, it's a pro-level video platform.
If I needed any more proof that this is a pro-videoographer tool, I got it when I tested out Genlock support, which lets you capture and automatically sync multiple video streams.
To test this, I hooked up the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max video via a wireless connection to an iPad Pro 13. The iPad was running a Testflight version of Final Cut Pro for iPad, and the phones were running Testflight versions of Final Cut Cameras.
Final Cut on the iPad presented me with a single record button, and when I hit it, both cameras started to record. I was capturing two angles at once, and Final Cut presented them as two linked streams that I could edit to create a very nice pro-level, multi-cam video.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro camera samplesImage 1 of 7(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 7(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 7(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 4 of 7(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 5 of 7(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 6 of 7(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 7 of 7(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)- Camera score: 5 / 5
- iOS 26
- Apple Intelligence adds some new features
- The ultimate Siri is still MIA
There may never be a more beautiful iOS than iOS 26. Liquid Glass, which glistens from almost every virtual surface, looks both polished and exciting. It's quite the programming feat to make pixels look like glass, giving unexpected substance to, for instance, buttons and widgets.
Generally, I'm a fan, except for the times where Liquid Glass's fundamental translucency makes for a cluttered viewing experience – if you can see what's behind a text-entry box when you're trying to type in it, it can get a little confusing. I'm certain that Apple can offer some Liquid Glass transparency adjustment in a future update.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Last year's star, Apple Intelligence, gets a few updates, like a better Image Playground and upgraded Visual Intelligence, which can instantly take info gleaned from an image and add it to your calendar.
Clean Up remains an impressive image-editing tool. In one instance, I used it to remove a rope from in front of a horse. I drew one glowing line over the thin white fabric, then tapped the screen, and it disappeared, leaving the horse unscathed (and his face filled in) behind.
Image 1 of 2Clean Up is one of Apple's most useful AI-supported tools (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)But Apple Intelligence's capabilities still pale in comparison to what I can get with Google Gemini or from partner OpenAI (and ChatGPT). I await the day when Siri becomes as conversational and system-aware as these other platforms.
- Software score: 4.5 / 5
- A19 Pro is Apple's most powerful mobile CPU
- 12GB is the memory you need
Going by by specs alone, the A19 Pro is a bit of a beast:
- 6-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores
- 6-core GPU, each with its own Neural Accelerator
- 16-Core Neural Engine
Unsurprisingly, performance scores for the A19 Pro chip are, based on Future Labs benchmarks, considerably better than for the A18 Pro that powered the iPhone 16 Pro. In fact, the SoC maxed out some of our frame rate tests.
These numbers are on display in every operation the phone performs. It's an able console-grade gamer, playing Destiny: Rising with impressive levels of shading, reflections, fog, and fire. The A19 Pro's hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing surely has a hand in this.
There's now 12GB of RAM on board, which means there's likely more than enough headroom for ever-larger AI models. After all, Apple's preference is to do things like AI-assisted Live Translation locally.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)This is an SoC that's completely comfortable both shooting and editing 4K video. It's a little powerhouse.
It's more, though, than just a workhorse. Apple has added a vapor chamber system that, along with the now more heat-efficient aluminum frame, helps capture heat off the chip and spread it throughout the iPhone 17 Pro body so there's no longer a hot spot.
In reality, this is one area where the smaller iPhone 17 Pro differs a bit from iPhone 17 Pro Max. I'm not sure if it's because there's more room in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but it felt cooler in my tests than the iPhone 17 Pro, which got slightly warm to the touch during an intense Asphalt 9 Legends round.
- Performance score: 5 / 5
- Battery life upgrade
- Qi 2 support
- No adapter included
Between all that efficiency and Apple reengineering the interior for a larger battery, the iPhone 17 Pro might have the best battery life for an iPhone ever, leaving aside the larger iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is now flirting with two-day battery range.
In my anecdotal tests, the iPhone 17 Pro was good for between 25 and 30 hours of battery life. Apple rates it for about 30 hours if you do nothing but stream video, while mixed use, especially lots of gameplay, will shorten the charge duration. Even so, this is the best batter life I've ever seen on a base Pro model. The combination of a more efficient CPU, a bigger battery, and the energy-saving heat management appears to be paying real dividends.
This is a Qi 2- compatible system, which means it charges faster on a Qi2-ready charge pad. The phone doesn't ship with a charging adapter, just the USB-C woven cable, but if you buy the new, optionL, Dynamic 40W (up to 60W) charger ($39), you can also expect faster wired charging speeds. When I tried it, I was able to charge to 50% in 20 minutes.
- Battery score: 4.5 / 5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
A better phone in virtually every way for the same price as last year
5 / 5
Design
A refreshed design that also brings some performance dividends
5 / 5
Display
Display technology slight better thanks to more brightness and a toucher screen.
4.5 / 5
Software
iOS26 is gorgeous but someitmes a bit overdone. Still the overall software package, even without the ultimate Siri Apple Intlligence upgrade, is excellent.
4.5 / 5
Camera
The best camera array Apple has ever produced
5 / 5
Performance
A19 Pro is powerful and backed by more memory than ever. It's ready for any task.
5 / 5
Battery
A bigger battery means 30 hours of operation is possible.
4.5 / 5
Buy it if...You want Apple Pro-level mobile power but not the size or price best
The iPhone 17 Pro is everything you can get from a Pro Max. All you lose is a bigger screen, crazy-long battery life, and the option to have 2TB of storage.
You want the best cameras Apple has ever produced
Great lenses, excellent image pipeline add up to truly great photo capabilities.
You demand the largest screen
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro has a nice 6.3-inch display but it's pretty small compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 6.9-inch super Retina XDR display.
You need more space
The iPhone 17 Pro maxes out at 1TB of storage. The 17 Pro Max will give you 2TB...for a price, of course.
Apple's latest Pro iPhone not exciting you? Here are a few alternatives from the Android frontier.
Google Pixel 10 Pro
The Pixel 10 Pro is a fantastic addition to the Pixel line, with useful new features like magnetic charging and AI tools that are helpful and not overbearing. There is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of performance and battery life, but this is one of the best smartphones you can buy, aside from the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung's ultimate Android phone is a welcome mixure of design and power that, yes, still brings the titanium. Ther'es also that 200MP sensor, something the iPhone 17 Pro Max still doesn't boast.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
For powerful versatility a surprisingly thin and light frame, nothing beats the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. It has excellent cameras, two screens, and powerful AI features. It's also considerably more expensive that the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
- Review test period: I received the phone on September 9 and tested it through September 16.
- Testing included: everyday use, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback, and testing Apple Intelligence
- Tools used: Geekbench 6, Geekbench AI, 3DMark
I tested the iPhone 17 Pro (and iPhone 17 Pro Max) alongside my iPhone 16 Pro Max. I took it with me everywhere and tried to use it as I would my own phone.
I've been testing smartphones for over 20 years, and I've been writing about the iPhone since it launched. I've also been tracking and writing about AI since the dawn of consumer-grade experiences more than a decade ago, and I've been covering technology for 39 years.
First reviewed September 2025
Categories: Reviews
The Casabrews 3700 Essential is a budget-friendly entry to espresso, but it trips on one too many hurdles
Casabrews 3700 Essential: one-minute review
Casabrews hasn’t quite garnered the same brand recognition as names like De’Longhi or Breville. But given it was only founded in 2020, it’s natural we don’t see Casabrews machines dominating lists of the best espresso machines just yet.
It’s difficult to know what to expect from this relative new-kid-on-the-block, and in my experience testing Casabrews’ espresso machines so far, the brand’s line-up has been a real mixed bag. The 3700 Essential continues that legacy of leaving me conflicted. While it’s attractively designed, impressively compact, and delivers top-notch steamed milk; there’s just too little consistency when it comes to the espresso itself. Add to that a persistent problem of dripping and messes after pulling shots, and my feelings are totally split.
(Image credit: Future)Casabrews 3700 Essential: price and availability- List price: $129.99 / £139.99
- Available in the US and UK
- Discounts available on Casabrews website
The Casabrews 3700 Essential is an affordable pick that’s undoubtedly on the lower end of budget espresso machines.
Those in the US can buy the Casabrews 3700 Essential at the Casabrews website or on Amazon, and regardless of where you choose to shop, it’ll usually set you back $139.99. That said, Casabrews frequently has discounts available on its range.
In the UK, you can still order from the Casabrews’ site though all prices are listed in dollars. Alternatively, you can pick it up from Amazon UK. However, your only color choices are silver and black, and the black variant costs $149.99.
- Value score: 5/5
Type
Semi-automatic espresso machine
Drink options
2 (single and double espresso)
Pump pressure
20 bar
Water tank capacity
43.9 oz / 1.24 liters
Steam wand
Yes, manual
Side (H x W x D)
12.5 x 5.7 x 12.6 inches / 31.75 x 14.48 x 32cm
Weight
10.25lbs / 4.65kg
(Image credit: Future)Casabrews 3700 Essential: design- Suitable for tiny kitchens
- Available in 5 colors (green, blue, silver, black, beige)
- Some high quality details, some not so high quality
In many respects, the Casabrews 3700 Essential is basically a slightly cheaper twin of the Casabrews CM5418: they share the same portafilter size, almost the same dimensions, and have virtually identical functions. For the most part, all that sets them apart is a $10 price difference … and a pretty substantial disparity in performance (but we’ll get to that later).
The Casabrews 3700 Essential is an espresso machine that feels made to be space-savvy. A small footprint on a budget machine is almost always a great choice. After all, if you’re on the hunt for an espresso machine under $150 dollars you might be a student, someone trying to budget, or just not ready to dive headfirst into the world of espresso. No matter what your reason for opting for a low-cost machine, you likely don’t have tons of counter space, or don’t want to sacrifice it.
So, whether you have a cramped kitchen or want a caffeine fix in your office, the 3700 Essential fits the bill for a compact espresso machine, thanks to it coming in at less than six inches wide. It’s half an inch larger in the back than the CM5418 in the back though to accommodate a larger water tank though, which is a bit of a shame. To me, a larger tank is only ever really a bad thing, as it incentivises you going longer without changing your water – stagnant water isn’t ever a note you want to bring to your coffee.
Aside from the machine itself, you also get a one-shot pressurized basket, a two-shot pressurized basket, and a plastic tamp scoop. These accessories are pretty bare bones, but this is to be expected given the price. With the inclusion of two pressurized (or double-walled) baskets and no non-pressurized (or single-walled) baskets, the 3700 Essential should – in theory – deliver a more consistent output, even when using coffee that is too coarse or not freshly ground.
- Design score: 4/5
- Inconsistencies with espresso output
- Beware of messes and drips
- Steam wand performs ideally
None of the Casabrews machines I’ve tested so far have had a three-way solenoid valve to relieve pressure on the puck after extraction, but the CM3700 Essential appears to suffer the most from its absence. Post-pull dripping was a notable issue with it, even beyond the amount I had come to tolerate while using budget espresso machines. I also had issues with the puck appearing soupier than expected, and even experienced a nightmarish ‘portafilter sneeze’ which sent wet, gloopy grounds flying across my drip tray and work surface.
This is a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things but it’s not difficult to find a similarly priced-machine that doesn’t suffer from these problems to the same degree. All of this meant that I had to remind myself to wait a little while after pulling a shot before removing (and cleaning) my portafilter to avoid having to drop sludge into my knock box. This is a deceptively simple request for someone like me, who’s likely to forget about it entirely, and find myself greeted by a gross crusty puck the next morning.
Thankfully, the side effects of excess portafilter pressure can be mitigated by getting properly accumulated to the rhythm of your machine. For the most part, you can avoid a big clean-up job once you figure out exactly when to stop your shot, when to remove your cup, how fine you can grind before your machine starts to ‘choke’, and when to safely and cleanly remove your portafilter. That knowledge comes with time and practice but I can’t help feeling like other machines I’ve tested took far less getting accustomed to.
The slightly messy fuss of the CM3700 Essential might feel worth it if I was consistently pleased with the espresso that came out of it. While I had high hopes based on my first shot, performance proved to be variable in the long run.
I had some difficulty getting a confident, clean tamp on my puck as the tamp scoop was light, awkward to wield, and ever so slightly smaller than for my basket. This meant I had to perform multiple tamping motions while shifting the tamp around the puck in order to flatten the full surface area. Obviously, this wasn’t ideal and I could see the puck getting slightly cracked with each new push, but I worked to get the best preparation I could despite my struggles.
Besides, pressurized baskets are designed to compensate for imperfect grind size or technique, essentially forcing a thicker crema and “pretty good” extraction even with suboptimal coffee and puck prep. That’s why so many entry-level machines include them. Thankfully, the pressurized basket had created a pleasant-looking layer of crema which—while not technically a sign of well-extracted espresso in this case– certainly looked the part. The taste was solid too: it had managed to produce something quite flavorful and pleasant to drink black, as is.
However, from that point on, espresso shots from the 3700 Essential proved to be more of a gamble. To be clear, I wasn’t expecting a $129 espresso machine to rival a top of the line model, but even by budget standards the fluctuations felt a tad extreme. I compared it directly with the Casabrews CM5418 (again, the 3700 Essential can’t escape the shadow of its more capable brother), and it produced more balanced results with the same beans and recipe. The 3700 Essential just doesn’t inspire confidence that I could get the same cup twice in a row, which is all you can really ask of your machine.
It’s not all doom and gloom though. My tinge of disappointment was softened by how well the machine handles steaming milk. Despite being a compact and inexpensive machine, the 3700 Essential delivers the kind of steam pressure and precision you need to produce silky microfoam, as well as airy cappuccino froth.
The steam wand is controlled by a knob on the side of the machine, and while it’s a small detail, I did appreciate the silicone grip around its perimeter. Not only does it feel more comfortable in my hand than steel or plastic but it offers better traction when turning, which is helpful for maintaining control while steaming. The last thing you’d want is to fumble when trying to turn the knob and end up burning your milk.
- Performance score: 2.5/5
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
Affordable coffee machine that's definitely at the budget end of the market.
5/5
Design
Very compact machine, but accessories are very bare-bones.
4/5
Performance
Inconsistencies with espresso output, and messy drips, though steam wand works well.
2.5/5
Buy it ifYou’re on a budget
There are few espresso machines that are quite so kind to your wallet as the Casabrews 3700 Essential. Even when compared to Casabrews’ already economical range, the 3700 Essential has the second lowest price tag out of any of the brand’s other machines.
You enjoy your coffee with flavored syrups
While testing it, I found that not every shot from the Casabrews 3700 Essential was a winner. However, even slightly ‘meh’ espresso can serve as a good base for flavored lattes. If espresso isn’t the star of the show in your favorite beverages, this machine should serve you just fine.
You’re big into milk-based drinks
If you’re looking for a machine with a steam wand that’ll let you make cappuccino foam or microfoam, the 3700 Essential has you covered. Its steam wand is comfortable to use and easy to get the hang of.
Don't buy it ifYou’re a lover of espresso or black coffee
In my testing, the Casabrews 3700 Essential produced decent shots, but that quality wavered quite a bit. The output was never so bad as to be a total dealbreaker, but you’re not guaranteed the same drink every morning, no matter how closely you adhere to your usual technique.
You’re planning on getting into coffee as a hobby
A lot of the frustrations presented by the Casabrews 3700 Essential is likely to put you off the ritual of making your own espresso. What’s more, you’ll probably want to upgrade to another machine after a short while.
Casabrews 3700 Essential: also considerIf you're not sure that the Casabrews 3700 Essential is the right coffee maker for you, here are two alternatives to consider.
Breville / Sage Bambino
One of the most commonly-recommended espresso machines for beginners is the Breville Bambino (or Sage Bambino, as it’s called in the UK), and that’s for good reason. While the Bambino is certainly a rung above the Casabrews 3700 Essential in terms of price, it's likely to deliver a more satisfying intro into the world of espresso.
Read our full Breville / Sage Bambino review
Casabrews CM5418
As mentioned previously, the Casabrews CM5418 and the Casabrews 3700 Essential have a whole lot in common. The former is ever so slightly more expensive, but that extra cost is more than worth it given the upgrade in performance.
How I tested the Casabrews 3700 Essential(Image credit: Future)I tested the Casabrews 3700 Essential over a period of three weeks. During this time, I used it to brew espresso and steam milk.
Across my testing, I used light, dark, and omni-roasted fresh espresso beans bought from specialty coffee roasters. I adjusted my dose and grind size in pursuit of the best recipe for each variety. All beans were ground with the Baratza Encore ESP.
Steam wand functionality was tested by using fresh, full-fat dairy milk, semi-skimmed milk, and oat milk. After each steam, I made sure to purge and clean the wand to keep it clean and functional. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.
First reviewed September 2025
Categories: Reviews
I reviewed Lenovo’s new Chromebook Plus and was enthralled by its design and performance – but I’m not sure it’s worth its Windows-laptop price tag
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Two-minute review
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch is a high-end device, featuring a premium build and spec - with a price tag to match.
It looks very elegant, more so than other Chromebooks. It apes Apple’s MacBook line in all the right ways, with its sleek, rounded chassis and delectable materials. It’s also very thin and reasonably light, making it a cinch to carry around.
This really is one of the best Chromebook constructions I’ve seen. Every aspect screams quality, and there are a few atypical touches, such as the central protrusion on the top of lid to help with opening, and the wavy contours of the underside panel.
The lid is as smooth and as stable as I could’ve wished for, too, although it doesn’t open to a full 180 degrees. The bezel around the display is incredibly thin, which is always a positive.
You don’t get many interfaces on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch, although I was glad to see two USB-C ports, both of which can be used to charge the device and connect to external monitors, and placed either side for improved convenience. A USB-A port and a headset jack are the only others.
The Chromebook Plus 14-inch performs as well as its state-of-the-art design suggests. It can handle all manner of tasks, from light productivity to gaming, and the 16GB of RAM in my review unit made light work of multitasking.
Complementing this performance is the brilliant OLED display, which provides plenty of clarity, vibrancy, contrast, and brightness, with the latter helping to keep reflections at bay. It also has touch functionality, which works very well, if not quite on par with those on tablets and phones.
The touchpad, however, is the best I’ve used on a Chromebook: it’s unbelievably smooth, while its large dimensions and responsive inputs make navigation as easy as can be. The keyboard is also great to use, although I did have to acclimatize somewhat to the solidity of the keys themselves, but once I did, typing was an equally enjoyable experience.
Battery life is also superb, lasting about 14 hours in our movie playback test. Not many other Chromebooks can beat this, barring the odd few. It’s also very quick to charge.
All of these class-leading elements come at a price, however. The Chromebook Plus 14-inch is one of the most expensive Chromebooks around, straying into Windows-laptop territory – and ChromeOS simply can’t compete with these machines in terms of sheer versatility.
For this reason, it’s hard to recommend the Chromebook Plus 14-inch outright, unless you manage to catch it in a generous sale. But if you have your heart set on a Chromebook Plus and the money to spend, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch won’t disappoint.
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Price and availability(Image credit: Future)- $749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197
- Available now
- High end of the market
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch costs $749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197 and is available now. Models with differing RAM and storage capacities are also available.
This is one of the most expensive Chromebooks on the market. At this price, the Chromebook Plus 14-inch rubs shoulders with some of the best laptops running Windows, which have far greater compatibility and customizability. The best value laptop as far as we’re concerned is the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which we also compared favorably to a MacBook (specifically the Air model), owing to its thin and light design and commendable speed.
There’s also the HP Chromebook Plus 15, which we rate as the one of the best Chromebooks for students, thanks to its blistering performance by the standards of the sector. While it’s also expensive for a Chromebook, it’s still considerably cheaper than Chromebook Plus 14-inch, despite having a larger display.
- Value: 2.5 / 5
My Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review unit had 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Price:
$749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197
CPU:
MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 (8 cores, 2.1GHz)
Graphics:
Integrated Arm Immortalis-G925 MC
RAM:
16GB LPDDR5x
Screen:
14" WUXGA (1920x1200) OLED 400nits Glossy, 100% DCI-P3, 60Hz, Glass, touchscreen
Storage:
256GB UFS 4.0
Ports:
2x USB-C (3.2 Gen 1, PD 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4), 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 1), 1x headset jack
Wireless:
MediaTek Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:
5.0MP with privacy shutter
Weight:
2.78lbs (1.26kg)
Dimensions:
12.37 x 8.63 x 0.62in (314 x 219 x 16mm)
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Design(Image credit: Future)- Fabulous construction
- Takes cues from MacBooks
- Not many ports
The Chromebook Plus 14-inch is expertly crafted. Its Apple-inspired appearance is more than surface-deep; its build quality rivals that of the best MacBooks, even featuring its own fingerprint scanner. Further similarities lay in the Chromebook Plus 14-inch’s thin and light body, which makes it easy to travel with.
But the Chromebook Plus 14-inch has some unique aspects that set it apart slightly. There’s a bulge in the center of the lid that makes it easier to open, while the underside is crinkled – quite why, I’m not sure; but I appreciated it nonetheless, as it feels oddly satisfying to hold.
The lid hinge is engineered to a high standard as well, offering smooth yet sturdy adjustments. The bezel around the screen is minimal, which I’m always pleased to see as it allows the display to make full use of its allotted space.
Even the power adapter is well designed, forgoing the mid-cable brick that many others are saddled with. It’s still something of a wall wart, though, and the length of brick directly behind the plug might make it unsuitable for certain setups.
Thankfully, it should prove thin enough to avoid infringing upon adjacent sockets. It’s a shame the cable itself isn’t that long, but it should suffice for most setups.
There are only four ports on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch, but two of them are USB-C, and both support charging and external display connections, which helps to make up for the lack of dedicated ports for these. They’re also located on either side, which makes the Chromebook Plus 14-inch conducive to a wider variety of setups. The other two interfaces are a USB-A (on the left) and a headset jack (on the right), which are always useful additions.
- Design score: 5 / 5
- Fast all-round performance
- Sharp and vibrant display
- Super smooth touchpad
Here are the benchmark results for the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch:
TechRadar Battery Life Test: 14 hours and 4 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 288.364
Kraken Benchmark: 398.8ms
Speedometer 3.1: 26.6 (±0.45)
The Chromebook Plus 14-inch is an excellent performer. It can handle light productivity with ease, while the 16GB of RAM in my review unit (quite a lot for a Chromebook) meant it could multitask without issue.
It can also stream 4K content seamlessly without endless pauses for buffering, as well as run some reasonably demanding mobile games. I played Asphalt Legends on high settings and Call of Duty: Mobile on max settings, and both ran as smoothly as I could’ve wished for. Alien: Isolation was a slightly less impressive experience, but it was still just as playable.
The OLED display is glorious, and easily among the best in this sector, rendering colors with fantastic vibrancy. It also has great contrast, and although reflections can reveal themselves at points, I found there’s enough brightness to eliminate the worst of them. The 1920 x 1200 resolution is pleasingly sharp, too, especially within its 14-inch frame.
(Image credit: Future)What’s more, the Chromebook Plus 14-inch also has touchscreen functionality. This works very well, thanks to how responsive and precise it is. It’s slightly more grabby than some of the best tablet screens, but only marginally, so keen illustrators and other stylus users will still find it smooth enough. It’s only a shame that a stylus isn’t included.
The keys on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch feel very tight and solid when pressed, which did take me some time to get used to. However, they’re incomparably stable, and their relatively deep indentations provide plenty of security and tactility.
With all this said, they still have a short and snappy actuation, and offer plenty of feedback thanks to their dampening. They’re also backlit, which is somewhat of a rarity on Chromebooks.
If anything, the touchpad on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch is even better. It has the silkiest surface of any Chromebook touchpad I’ve used, which makes gestures and navigation effortless. The latter is further aided by its relatively large size, too.
- Performance score: 5 / 5
The Chromebook Plus 14-inch has an exceptional battery life. It managed to last 14 hours when I played a movie on repeat from a full charge. This eclipses many of its rivals, including the HP Chromebook Plus 15, which only managed close to 11 hours.
However, it can’t beat the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook with its score of 16-plus hours, nor can it outlast the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which achieved over 18 hours. It’s quick to charge, though, taking just 100 minutes to top up completely.
- Battery life: 4.5 / 5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
It’s one of the most expensive Chromebooks around, and comes dangerously close to mid-range Windows laptops.
2.5 / 5
Design
It’s hard to fault any aspect of its construction, and there are a few unique touches that only make it better.
5 / 5
Performance
There’s little the Chromebook Plus 14-inch can’t handle, from productivity and browsing to streaming and gaming.
5 / 5
Battery life
The Chromebook Plus 14-inch can outlast many of its rivals, with only a few exceptions.
4.5 / 5
Total Score
Chromebooks don’t come much better than this, but you’ll have to pay dear for the privilege – at which point non-ChromeOS devices might make more sense.
4 / 5
Buy it if...You want the best Chromebook design
I haven’t come across a Chromebook built as well as this before; it’s just so thin and so premium.
You want the best Chromebook performance
Its powerful ARM CPU and 16GB of RAM make light work of all kinds of tasks, including 4K streaming and light gaming. The keyboard, touchpad, and touchscreen are all excellent to use as well.
You’re on a budget
The Chromebook Plus 14-inch tops the Chromebook Plus market, and even encroaches on the Windows laptop space, which is a daring move.
You want plenty of connections
With only four ports – three of which are USB – those after more dedicated interfaces will be disappointed.
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441
Price:
$749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197
$549.99 / £449.99 / AU$749
$949.99 (about £760 / AU$1,470)
CPU:
MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 (8 cores, 2.1GHz)
Intel Core i3-N305 (8 threads, 3.80GHz)
Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100
Graphics:
Integrated Arm Immortalis-G925 MC
Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics
Qualcomm Adreno GPU
RAM:
16GB LPDDR5x
8GB LPDDR5
16GB LPDDR5X
Screen:
14" WUXGA (1920x1200) OLED 400nits Glossy, 100% DCI-P3, 60Hz, Glass, touchscreen
15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz, 16:9 aspect ratio, non-touch screen
14″ QHD (2560 x 1600) @60Hz touchscreen
Storage:
256GB
128GB
256GB
Ports:
2x USB-C (3.2 Gen 1, PD 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4), 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 1), 1x headset jack
1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio
2x USB-C 4, 1x USB 3.2, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio jack
Wireless:
MediaTek Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
MediaTek Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:
5.0MP with privacy shutter
1080p FHD camera with privacy shutter
1080p at 30 fps FHD RGB,720p at 30 fps IR
Weight:
2.78lbs (1.26kg)
3.81lbs (1.73kg)
3.17lbs (1.40kg)
Dimensions:
12.37 x 8.63 x 0.62in (314 x 219 x 16mm)
14.28 x 9.5 x 0.78in (363 x 242 x 20mm)
0.58 ~ 0.0.62 x 12.36 x 8.81in (14.69 ~ 15.64 x 314 x 223.75mm)
Here are some equally-capable alternatives to the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch:
HP Chromebook Plus 15
If you’re in the market for a similarly capable Chromebook Plus, but don’t want to spend quite as much, the HP Chromebook Plus fits the bill. It matches the Chromebook Plus 14-inch for performance, and while its design and display aren’t quite as spectacular, the HP Chromebook Plus is still at the top of its class.
Read our full HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441
The premium price tag of the Chromebook Plus 14-inch means it competes with some Windows machines, including the Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which is one of the best value laptops around. It has a similar spec to the Chromebook Plus 14-inch – it likewise utilizes an ARM chip and 16GB of RAM – which means it can handle the same tasks. However, its display is even sharper, and crucially it runs Windows, which is far more versatile than ChromeOS will likely ever be.
Read our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 review
How I tested the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch- Tested for two days
- Used for various tasks
- Experience with Chromebooks and other laptops
I tested the Chromebook Plus 14-inch for a couple of days, during which time I used it for all manner of tasks, from productivity and browsing to streaming and gaming.
I also ran our series of benchmark tests for Chromebooks, and put its battery life through its paces by running a movie on a continuous loop.
I have plenty of Chromebook experience, having owned and reviewed a number of them. I’ve also owned and reviewed other laptops and even tablets, so I know how they compare to Android, Windows, and macOS devices.
- First reviewed September 2025
- Read more about how we test
Categories: Reviews
The way Panasonic's attractive new open earbuds sound makes me smile, but they’re so annoying to operate
Panasonic RB-F10: Two-minute review
Being a little down on a product you fundamentally really like feels uncharitable. It’s the audio equivalent of Ebenezer Scrooge giving Tiny Tim a pair of the incredible Shokz OpenFit 2+, then swapping that sweet sonic stocking stuffer for Bob Cratchit’s humble morsel of goose. Bah, humbug, indeed.
Truthfully, though, if you did buy me a pair of Panasonic RB-F10s for Christmas or my birthday, I’d be pretty smitten. Yes, they have their faults, but if you can overcome slightly fiddly on-ears controls, Panny’s recent buds are stylish, affordable, and feel so comfortable once they’re on, you might as well have a couple of pixies giving your ear canals a luxurious bubble bath.
I adore how these open earbuds feel on my lugholes. There’s no question the main selling point here is the soothing snugness the RB-F10s bring to your listening experiences. I genuinely forgot I was wearing Panasonic’s open earbuds, which weigh 8.79g each, during the vast majority of my testing.
I can’t think of a single occasion where the fit irritated me, be it in on a recent skin-sizzling 93F trip to Fuerteventura or enduring a mild Scottish downpour closer to home. These wrap-around buds neither slip or irritate your skin, nor do they begin to chafe after hours of prolonged use. Granted, I might be guilty of the (ahem) occasional wildly definitive-sounding declaration over the years, but I stand by the following statement: the Panasonic RB-F10s are the most comfortable earbuds of any kind I’ve ever worn. Stick that on the box, Panny.
Elsewhere, problems sadly surface that lower these otherwise supremely sturdy buds' score. With grown-up looks, a classy charging cradle, and satisfyingly loud, well-weighted audio, there’s a whole lot to like about a pair of open ears that cost comfortably less than $100.
Yet it’s hard to stuff my fingers in my ears and pretend the RB-F10s don’t have issues – chief among them are some of the fiddliest, least dependable on-ears controls I’ve encountered on a pair of buds. At best, they’re semi-reliable. At worst? The simple task of pausing or skipping a track has made me chuck Panasonic’s ear accessories onto my sofa multiple times – a feeble bout of frustration the best open ear buds wouldn’t bring out in me.
(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)I’ll get to the RB-F10’s fuller audio performance shortly, but if you want the abbreviated version, they’re damn good. With weighty 17mm x 12mm drivers, they bring boom in spades for such svelte buds, while also delivering acoustics you’d never describe as either tinny nor scratchy.
Feature-wise, we’re looking at somewhat of a mixed bag. That's a bag you’d drop every time you did your shopping thanks to those misfiring on-ear controls that are as dependable as a lion going for the vegan option at an all-you-eat zebra buffet. Though IPX4 waterproofing is welcome (and effective in my experience), battery life doesn’t exactly have my knees aquiver.
If you don’t have Panasonic’s nicely minimalist charging cradle to hand, you’re looking at a meagre seven hours of juice. If you’re a fiendish podcast binger like myself who often leaves home without a dock, these may not be the buds for you.
ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) has also been left off the party list and software support is non-existent. Though not the most feature-rich buds, the RB-F10s do at least support convincingly solid dual mic audio calls, and the presence of reliable Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is also welcome.
If it weren’t for those overly finicky on-ear controls, I’d unquestionably be giving the Panasonic RB-10s a higher score that would have it ruffling the feathers of some of the best earbuds. Yet due to those unpredictable controls and only so-so battery life, you may be better off looking at the sublime Nothing Ear (a), or the slightly more premium Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
Panasonic RB-F10 review: SpecificationsDrivers
17mm x 12mm
Water resistant
IPX4
Battery life
7 hours (earbuds); 25 hours (including charged case)
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4
Weight
8.79 per bud / charging case 36g
Active noise cancellation
No
Panasonic RB-F10 review: Price and availability(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)- Released in June 2025
- $110 / £79.99 / AU$165 (approx.)
The Panasonic RB-F10s have been out for a few months at this point, but you’d be hard pressed to tell. You’d have an easier time spotting a neon-dipped snow leopard during a blackout than finding these buds readily on sale.
Currently, the only place I’ve been able to locate these attractive, relatively affordable earbuds is the official UK Panasonic site. Available in black or a two-tone white scheme, these $110 / £79.99 / around AU$165 buds are very reasonable considering their overall build and sound quality.
Knowing Panasonic, the F10s are unlikely to become significantly easier to pick up going forward, so if you do see them in stock on the UK’s official site or somewhere like eBay (and fancy the cut of their jib), put your money where your sonic-slaying mouth is.
Panasonic RB-F10 review: Features(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)- IPX4 waterproofing works well
- Seamless Bluetooth multipoint connections
- Average battery if they don’t get a full charge
If there were a Deep Impact style meteor-centric oblivion on the horizon and you were forced to draw the short straw on who gets to board the shuttle to survival…. well, suffice to say that comet is cooking F10 owners. That’s a fruity way of saying the RB-F10s aren’t exactly feature-rich.
A lack of ANC or software support is perhaps expected at such an agreeable price point, but what’s considerably harder to stomach is the F10s’ battery life. I’ve seen mayflies with heaving drinking problems boast longer lifespans.
Unless you carry the handsome dock around you like it was a court-mandated bracelet, these open earbuds will die on you a little after seven hours. If you obsessively charge the buds in their dock, and I mean every single day, you’ll get a much healthier 25 hours of juice. Nevertheless, during my seven weeks of testing, I found Panny’s buds died out of nowhere an alarming amount. If you’re a committed jogger, these probably aren’t the earbuds for you.
Don’t walk away at a brisk pace just yet, though. The RB-F10s aren’t entirely no-frills and an IPX4 waterproof rating should never be taken for granted from a native Scot like myself. If you live in an area with regular showers you’ll definitely appreciate this feature. Thanks to their open ear design that shows off a whole lotta lobe, nailing down an IPX4 waterproof rating was key.
I was once caught in a downright biblical lashing of hailstones while nipping out for a lunchtime burger during my F10s testing, and it was mercifully only my soggy quarter pounder that met a watery fate that day. On the few times I have encountered showers while out and about, I’ve yet to hear all those sky tears cause any audible distortion while listening to music on the RB-F10s.
The F10s’ Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint connectivity is probably the most forward-looking feature these buds boast. Capable of pairing to a duo of iOS/Android devices at the same time, the F10s can register to 10 separate devices, though you can obviously only swap between a single pair at once.
The pairing/disconnecting process is relatively simple, involving holding the sensor button down on each bud for several seconds. Once you hone in on your two favorite devices, these buds will intuitively pick up on whatever content you were listening to on them last. It’s smart, hassle-free stuff.
Dual mic support also makes the F10s solid for voice calls. As glamorous – and depressingly unstaged – as this sounds, I had to take a relatively important fraud call from my bank while wearing Panasonic’s buds. The company’s claim that voice signals hold up to around 33ft proved largely true, and even taking an irritating security call while wandering about my Spanish friend’s (in no way death) cellar, the clarity of the audio never wavered.
So the F10s just about get a passing grade in the features department. Still, any prospective future teacher would be sticking a big, fat “could do better” before a pair of F11s rock up to school next year.
- Features score: 3/5
- Bass satisfies for such lightweight buds
- Vocal clarity is usually excellent
- No software but EQ tweaks seldom needed
As someone who normally wears the best over-ears headphones in everyday life I’ve been mightily impressed by the range of sounds these sleek buds pump up. Keen to hear how the buds would fare, I decided to forgo my increasingly decrepit musical tastes and listen to some fresher bangers from Glastonbury 2025. Not in a mud-caked field in Somerset, you understand. Rather from the comfort of my reclining chair with an RF-10 popped into each ear.
Now let’s jump down the YouTube rabbit hole!
The five-piece indie pop group Wet Leg slithered around Glasto’s Other Stage and immediately wormed into my brain with Catch These Fists. Sensationally steely, winkingly erotic before exploding into a scrappily raunchy crescendo, it’s a bloody fun tune, and one where the RB-F10s powerful 17mm x 12mm drivers effortlessly pick up lead singer Rhian Teasdale’s growling lower registers.
I was also taken aback that the RB-F10s made the upbeat Yougotmefeeling by Parcels come alive in a full-bodied way that briefly made me do a double take on whether I was listening to their summery banger on budget earbuds or one of the best surround sound systems. There was one moment the video cut to the super sweaty crowd, and the subsequent swirling chorals almost made me believe I was standing among the throng covered in knocked-over plastic lager glasses.
Sticking with YouTube, I was delighted to bump into an energetic performance of Don’t Back into the Sun by The Libertines. The fact Carl Barat turned up with chaotic longtime collaborator Pete Doherty, who not only looked reasonably healthy, but didn’t flub his lines, was a nice surprise. That definitely wasn’t on my Glasto bingo card. Back to the Panasonic RB-F10s, Gary Powell's pounding drumwork and John Hassall's satisfyingly punchy bass came through without overwhelming Pete and Carl’s duets.
Even though I do a lot of my headphones testing on my iPhone, I must admit to consuming a lot of content on my iPad Pro, be it the best Netflix movies or the best Amazon Prime shows. On that note, I’ve been rewatching The Boys season 3 for roughly the 43rd time. Herogasm! Anyway, there’s a song that plays during a later episode where Homelander “might” be getting his morning milk from an unconventional source. Yick.
Still, if it wasn’t for that udderly unacceptable act, I’d never have found 1968’s Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells. Talk about a psychedelic headtrip banger for the ages. This trance-like ‘60s tune is mellow yet somehow quietly sinister. For all three minutes and 25 seconds the RB-F10s deliver the big beats with aplomb while also delivering on the shakier strands that make you wonder if your entire head is about to fall into your buds.
So it shouldn’t come as a Tyler Durden-style shocker that I’m into the audio quality the Panasonic RB-F10s deliver at such a comparatively reasonable price. Bass also feels nuanced, with drivers capable of handling both big orchestral numbers without letting lyrics get lost in the shuffle. Sound-wise, these are some of the most well-rounded, best-judged buds I’ve tested.
- Sound quality score: 4.5/5
- So light you can barely feel them
- Classy little charging cradle
- On-ear controls can be a nightmare
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! Not enough? Alright. Zip those lips and take even more of my cents. I’m smitten with the design of the Panasonic RB-F10s, especially with the ultra alluring two-tone white shade (also available in black). Unfussy yet dignified, they have an aura of quiet confidence about them I really dig. And then there’s the comfort.
If it was legal to wed a pair of open earbuds based purely on how ludicrously comfortable they feel to wear, I’m slamming a ring on the RB-10s pronto…. before finding a cave where I can live out the rest of my days in shunned solitude. Hot dang, do these buds feel lovely.
I’ve worn some supremely comfy cans of late (like the likeable yet uneven Happy Plugs Play Pro over-ears), but Panasonic's lightweight offerings are on another level. Once you get them out of their cute charging cradle, popping them on is a breeze. With a few tweaks I found the RB-10 almost immediately adjusted to a position that wrapped around my lobes in an entirely satisfying, seamless way.
I suspect this is down to two major factors. Firstly, the flexible (but not cheap-feeling) plastics they’ve been constructed from, which lets them contort around the shape of your ears with minimal fuss. Secondly, their oh-so-lightweight footprint. At well under 9 grams per bud, and thanks to their open design that leads to what Panasonic describes as an “unintrusive fit”, it’s almost alarmingly easy to forget you’re wearing the RB-F10s.
Fun fact: I went on a four-hour round trip to see the deeply underwhelming Jurassic World Rebirth semi-recently, and not once on that lengthy inner city tour could I feel Panasonic’s open buds rub my ears up the wrong way while listening to Jurassic-themed podcasts. Hey, you gotta keep it on brand, right? Honestly, I'm wearing them while currently writing this review and I legit can’t feel them. Witchcraft!
Sadly, the on-ear touch sensors are about as reliable as a chocolate watch… and a timekeeper that’s been placed into a giant oven at that. They simply don’t function as they should often enough.
(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)Located on the main body of each bud, a single tap should play/pause whatever you’re listening to, and touching the left bud’s sensor rapidly three times will turn the volume up (a double tap turns it down). Meanwhile, a trio of touches on the right earbud will skip forward a track (again, a double tap to go back a song).
The trouble is, these sensors are both weirdly sensitive and not sensitive enough. During my weeks of testing I’d find they’d follow the commands I wanted maybe 40% of the time. Hardly an ideal batting average, right?
If you’re sitting at a desk judging the exact position and pressure you need to hit the RB-F10s is easier. In motion, though? That’s a far more flustering story. I lost count of the times I accidentally skipped to a new podcast episode on walks due to my right bud’s sensor having a mind of its own.
Pausing tunes via the left earbud also proved to be a teeth-gnashing chore. It’s such a pity, because if the Panasonic RB-F10s controls were more reliable, I’d be awarding these attractive buds another half star.
To round off this finger-flummoxing package on a cheerier note, I’ve got to pour some love all over the RB-F10s’ charging “cradle”. Sorry, “dock”! Not only is it incredibly easy to jam into even the tightest of pockets, but the way both buds magnetically snap into their holders – Nintendo Switch 2 style – is stupidly satisfying.
- Design score: 3/5
- Build feels premium
- Sound exceeds expectations for the price
The RB-F10s are a bit of a steal. Full disclosure: DO NOT STEAL. Packing that Panny quality without skimping on audio quality, they hit a lovely sweet spot between price and performance. In an age where it’s all too easy to pick up any random pair of buds for $20 at an airport, the F10s’ design and sonic quality shine through.
The very fact I’ve barely given my beloved Apple AirPods Max much of a look-in of late speaks volumes – and I’m in no way sorry about the tangential pun. Rocking premium build quality and striking sound at a rough $100 price bracket, the F10s are easy to recommend for homebody audiophiles who aren’t fussed about ANC, so are less likely to contend with noisy commutes.
- Value score: 4/5
Category
Comment
Score
Features
Standard seven-hour battery life not suited for runners; no ANC or software.
3/5
Sound quality
Resonant bass combines with a satisfyingly wide-sounding mid-range; acoustics easy to pick out.
4.5/5
Design
Stylish, practical and supremely comfortable, but fiddly controls drag them down.
3/5
Value
Made with quality components that exude class usually reserved for pricier buds.
4/5
Panasonic RB-F10: Should I buy?(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)Buy it if...You crave comfort
I can’t recall ever wearing a more comfortable pair of earbuds. I forgot I was wearing the lightweight and breathable RB-F10s the vast majority of the time I was using them. You could use them for hours and not feel these tremendous buds.
Big sound at a good price
Despite lacking ANC, the RB-F10s deliver a well-balanced soundscape that tackles most music genres well thanks to reasonably deep bass levels and midranges that rarely lose vocal clarity even in busy tracks.
You don’t want to constantly carry its charger
Seven hours of sonic juice isn’t exactly terrible compared with other buds, but it’s not that impressive either. If you find yourself on a long-haul flight, you'd better bring the RB-F10s' charger or the buds won’t make the distance.
You have big hands
I constantly struggled with the Panasonic RB-F10s’ on-ear touch sensors. Simple acts like track skipping and pausing became headaches in reality, and even after weeks of testing they never performed as reliably as I wanted them to.
Panasonic RB-F10
Huawei FreeAarc
Final Audio ZE3000 SV
Drivers
17mm x 12 mm
40mm dynamic
10mm F-Core SV dynamic
Active noise cancellation
No
Yes
Yes
Battery life
7 hours (earbuds); 25 hours (charging case)
7 hours (earbuds); 23 hours (charging case)
7 hours (earbuds); 28 hours (charging case)
Weight
8.7g per bud
8.9g per bud
4g
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.4
Bluetooth 5.2
Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing
IPX4
IP57
IPX4
Huawei FreeArc
One of the earlier fantastic examples of a truly great set of open earbuds. Not only do the FreeArc’s little buds sound brilliant, they’re affordable, while also providing a comfortable fit. Open-ear efforts don’t get much better.
See our full Huawei FreeArc review
How I tested the Panasonic RB-F10- Tested for seven weeks
- Used at home, outdoors and on flights
I tested the Panasonic RB-F10 over a seven-week period. Forgive me if that seems like an overly long testing window. I turned 40 during the review process and suffered a tiny existential breakdown. Thank heavens I had the F10s’ quality sound output to pick me up during my darker moments.
During that time I used these open earbuds to listen to my favorite tunes and podcasts across different environments, spanning my ground floor apartment, on walks through city centers and on public buses. I primarily connected the headphones to my iPhone 14 Pro – and to a lesser extent – my Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (2024).
First reviewed: September 2025
Read more about how we test.
Categories: Reviews
H1: HMRC Basic PAYE Tools review
For UK-based employers managing payroll, using Pay As You Earn (PAYE) software that’s recognised by HMRC is more than a convenience – it’s a regulatory requirement. To that tune, using a tool that comes directly from the government, then, makes a lot of sense.
Businesses with fewer than 10 employees can use HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools to simplify things like tax calculations and real-time information (RTI) submissions.
It’s a free application provided directly by HMRC that’s fully compliant and functional, but it’s a seriously stripped-back system with an ultra-basic interface and a highly limited feature set that does nothing more than it needs to.
Covering all the essentials like calculating income tax, National Insurance, producing payslips and sending requiring reports to HMRC, it does unfortunately lack the modern capabilities of other solutions in this space, including free platforms for micro-businesses.
In contrast, several free commercial offerings like 1st Money exist, but in a world where free products are dwindling in number (IRIS’s Payroll Basics is phasing out after 2025/26), the fact that the people who set the standards also offer a free solution to meet those standards is a very welcome move.
- Our guide to the best payroll software
HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools is a completely free package intended for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Even though there’s no cost involved at all, Windows, Mac and Linux versions of the software have all been developed to ensure widespread adoption.
It sets the foundation for what ticks the right boxes, but other free options from IRIS, Primo and 1st Money do offer more functionality.
(Image credit: Pixabay)HMRC Basic PAYE Tools: FeaturesHMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools records employee details to calculate PAYE, National Insurance and student loan deductions, while also generating real-time submissions to HMRC, Employer Payment Records and statutory payment calculations.
On the company’s side, admins can produce printable payslips using HMRC’s system, too.
However, HMRC themselves say that the tool only allows you to perform “most” payroll tasks – an admission that even moderate features let alone advanced ones may be missing.
Beyond that, there’s really not a lot to talk about. No flashy artificial intelligence, no automations, not even an employee self-serve portal. Just a totally stripped-back bit of kit for companies to do what they need to do to stay above the board in HMRC’s books.
(Image credit: Claudio Scott / Pixabay)HMRC Basic PAYE Tools: Ease of useApart from the Windows, Mac and Linux software packages, you can also access HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools on Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari, so you don’t necessarily have to download any software at all.
We downloaded the software, which took a long time to open on macOS 15. Once it did, it mirrored an online portal, so it’s probably just as effective to access the government’s Basic PAYE Tools from a browser.
On the whole, the system isn’t especially intuitive and can feel awkward to use.
(Image credit: Shutterstock.com / Pikhandina)HMRC Basic PAYE Tools: SupportBeing a back-to-basics government-issued tool, there’s no real support for Basic PAYE Tools.
What you can do, though, it get in contact with HMRC more generally. This includes chatting about payroll-related queries, but support for the software and online service might not be so strong.
We couldn’t find any help articles for the system, but getting in contact with HMRC is a relatively simple affair and speaking to a human agent is easy by phone.
(Image credit: HMRC)HMRC Basic PAYE Tools: Final verdictBasic PAYE Tools from HMRC offers a compliant and cost-free entry point for micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees, handling core payroll tasks like tax and NI calculations, RTI submissions and statutory payments.
However, its no-frills approach presents major limitations, such as the absence of auto-enrolment, cloud access or a modern user interface.
Instead, HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools is an online portal or a stripped-back desktop app based on that same portal, so it’s only suitable for the most basic use cases.
For businesses that need more than the basics but still want to avoid high costs, free commercial software such as 1st Money offer a more appealing middle ground. You still get the benefits of free software for micro-businesses, but you get a much more inviting interface with a few more handy features.
HMRC’s lack of direct support for Basic PAYE Tools is also a downfall, but the fact that it comes direct from HMRC does mean that it covers all the bases exactly as HMRC intends.
For tiny startups who need to do no more than the sheer essentials, HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools are fine, but we think it’s worth exploring other free options for a more comprehensive approach.
Categories: Reviews
IRIS Payroll Basics review
Payroll Basics is an option for smaller companies with fewer than 10 employees – over 40,000 businesses use the platform, and over 600,000 UK businesses use IRIS’s payroll products on the whole.
It delivers essential functionality for micro-businesses without the cost or complexity found in larger platforms, and yet still maintains HMRC recognition and full compliance with PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments and Real Time Information (RTI) submissions.
This free product is designed for business owners and managers who may not have a dedicated payroll team but still need to run accurate payroll each month – if you’re a small business owner with a handful of workers and no dedicated teams or HR leaders, then this is quite possibly the most cost-effective way of getting the job done.
Because it’s backed by the broader company that is IRIS, you get access to the same underlying infrastructure but for free. IRIS claims to be the largest third-party online filer with the UK Government, with one in eight UK employees paid through its various payroll solutions.
As soon as your company grows beyond these basic needs, though, IRIS Payroll Basics will no longer be suitable, so think of it as a stopgap solution for the short term.
Still, its low barrier to entry and solid compliance tools make it a logical choice as a stepping stone for smaller employers navigating payroll for the first time.
- Our guide to the best payroll software
Being a so-called ‘Basics’ product, there’s one huge benefit to IRIS Payroll Basics, and that’s that it’s free.
IRIS describes the platform as a free payroll option recognised by HMRC, but it’s on its last legs as IRIS sets out plans to bolster profitability looking ahead. IRIS Payroll Basics will only be compliant for the 2025/26 tax year, because it’s set to be discontinued from there on.
Longer-term customers and those needing more than the free platform can provide should consider IRIS’s Staffology Payroll, which costs from £39 per month for one to 19 payslips.
(Image credit: IRIS)IRIS Payroll Basics: FeaturesFirst thing’s first, IRIS Payroll Basics is exactly that – basic. It covers the essentials that you need, but there are no additional features that make it an all-encompassing payroll and HR solution like others in this space.
Payroll Basics automatically calculates PAYE, National Insurance, pension auto-enrolment and statutory payments, and because it’s fully HMRC-recognised, it enables direct submissions to HMRC to cut out some admin work.
The reporting system also generates mandatory forms, month-end summaries, pension reports and employee payslips.
IRIS notes that all business-critical software and legislative updates are provided free of charge, however with the platform losing support at the end of the 2025/26 tax year, that’s about to change.
(Image credit: IRIS)IRIS Payroll Basics: Ease of useBecause it’s such a basic system, IRIS Payroll Basics is already a pretty simple system to get your head around. If there are fewer features to begin with, then it’s a reasonable expectation that there shouldn’t be a huge learning curve.
That being said, with the platform on its last legs, it does feel a bit more dated or basic than other solutions in this space. With a deprecation date in mind, IRIS hasn’t committed to updating the user interface as it has with other Payroll solutions under the IRIS brand.
Still, key calculations and submissions are automated to take away human error, so it’s a worthwhile consideration for micro-businesses without specialist payroll staff.
IRIS Payroll Basics: SupportIRIS Payroll Basics doesn’t have its own dedicated support, but being a free product, we wouldn’t usually expect support to be great anyway. Thankfully, because IRIS offers paid options too, Payroll Basics users can speak to the company this way.
A support page shows the phone number without being hidden behind too many clicks, so IRIS is clearly prepared to pick up the phone, but you can also shoot off a message on the live chat if you have a more complex query that may need a written response.
There’s no email support.
IRIS also has various articles in its knowledge base, but nothing seems specifically geared towards Payroll Basics.
(Image credit: Staffology Payroll by IRIS)IRIS Payroll Basics: Final verdictIRIS Payroll Basics is a practical, no-frills payroll solution for UK-based micro-businesses with up to 10 employees who are seeking a compliant, cost-effective way to manage payroll.
Organisations that fall within this scope can get superb value from this free product, with core functionalities like PAYE, National Insurance calculations, RTI submissions and pension enrolment built-in.
With previous updates to keep the platform up-to-date with changing legislations and HMRC recognition, you get peace of mind for full compliance, however there’s a huge caveat and that’s that IRIS Payroll Basics is set to lose compliance after tax year 2025/26.
Its biggest limitation is its April 2026 discontinuation, and from this point users will need to shift to other solutions, be it something like Staffology Payroll from IRIS or another provider altogether.
Support generally seems responsive and you get the backing of IRIS as a whole, which offers other payroll solutions, however it seems lacking in specific knowledge base articles or guidance on Payroll Basics.
Categories: Reviews
Square Payroll review
Square might be best known for its point-of-sale (POS) solutions that help small businesses manage payments, inventory and customer interactions, but the California software maker (co-founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey in 2009) has now gone on to make more business software solutions.
These days, Square offers everything from scheduling and team communications to banking and invoicing. Square Payroll is another extension of the company’s strategy, for simplifying wage payments, tax compliance and contractor management, and again, it’s designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Businesses already using Square POS or the Square Team app can quickly sync things like employee time cards, tips and hours, and it covers both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors in the US, making it a versatile option for an array of businesses.
The platform isn’t without its drawbacks, though. Advanced HR tools are limited, so if you’re a bigger company with more demanding needs, it could be time to look elsewhere.
- Our guide to the best payroll software
Depending on how you run your business and how your staffing looks, you have two routes to go down with Square Payroll.
If you’re running a contractor-only payroll, you pay $6 per month per person paid, but if you’re a full-service payroll with people on the books too, you’ll need to pay $35 per month for the account plus an extra $6 per month per person paid.
It’s not quite as simple as that, though, because the full-service payroll package does add some things that the contractor-only plan doesn’t get, including automatic payroll, off-cycle payments, multiple pay rates, next-day direct deposit and more.
The contractor-only plan also lacks scheduling (for up to 10 days ahead) and tip tracking and importing.
Given that the two plans cost the same per person paid, the fact that the fuller package only costs an additional $35 per month shouldn’t end up being too costly for medium-sized companies and above, but smaller companies with just a handful of workers will notice the difference that $35 makes.
(Image credit: Square)Square Payroll: FeaturesSquare Payroll’s core payroll functions include unlimited payroll runs, direct deposits, automated calculations and W-2/1099-NEC filings.
Besides that, you can automatically import timecards and direct tips from Square POS or the Square Team app, which is really handy if you’re already in the Square ecosystem and are looking to support your staff with even more management software.
Users can create schedules on the app and monitor labor costs across teams, which gives you some sort of visibility into staffing.
Workers’ benefits will also sync with Square Payroll, including health insurance and retirement plans, and integration with QuickBooks Online keeps bookkeeping in order across the two platforms with a nifty link that means you won’t need to be inputting the data twice across two different apps.
(Image credit: Square)Square Payroll: Ease of useIf you’re already familiar with Square’s other solutions, then you’ll know just how easy they are to use. The interface is very simple, with an easy-to-read black font on a white background. It’s very no-frills, but that’s great in what can be a fairly complex system.
The seamless integration with other Square tools makes it simple to manage things across the board, but on that note, Square is lacking in some more powerful solutions.
Think of it as a great support for smaller businesses, like restaurants and cafés, but maybe not as a catch-all solution for multi-location sites with complex needs.
Because of its simplicity, there’s no real learning curve apart from getting familiar with payroll processes in general. Onboarding options exist, but some have noted that the initial setup can sometimes feel a bit mot complex.
Staff can access what they need to from a mobile app, too, which adds to the convenience.
(Image credit: Square)Square Payroll: SupportSquare is a relatively easy company to get hold of, with payroll specialists available during working hours on weekdays to answer queries.
That’s on top of the customized onboard and initial setup, as well as support for those who want to migrate from other payroll solutions.
On the whole, responses appear to be prompt and helpful. Email support promises responses in 24-48 hours, but there’s the option to call customer support or sales, or speak online with the live chat.
As you’d expect, there’s also a pretty extensive knowledge base available for those who might be able to triage issues themselves.
(Image credit: Square)Square Payroll: Final verdictSmaller and some mid-sized businesses will benefit from Square Payroll, but those who have already invested in the Square ecosystem will get the biggest benefits.
Square Payroll supports both on-the-books workers and contractors, and its transparent pricing strategy removes any nasty surprises.
Real-time cost and staffing visibility is a welcome addition, and you can also link in with third-party services via integrations to further boost functionality.
However, compared with other payroll software services, Square Payroll can feel a little behind. It lacks more detailed customer needs that mean it might not be the best solution for larger businesses.
Still, the affordable pricing and features that are included mean it’s a worthwhile solution for startups and those with just a few workers, as it can cost a lot less than many others.
Remember, though, that Square Payroll isn’t necessarily aiming to compete with full-scale HR services, hence it’s a user-friendly system for its target market.
In short, Square Payroll is a powerful, efficient option for small businesses that prioritize value, ease of use, and interoperability with the rest of Square’s suite.
Categories: Reviews
The Backbone Pro is an excellent mobile controller, but I'm not convinced by its cloud gaming features
Backbone Pro: One-minute review
The Backbone Pro is the first big new arrival in the brand’s popular mobile accessory line-up for almost five years.
On paper, its underpinned by a winning formula: take one of the best mobile controllers around, beef it up to make it more comfortable, tweak the feel of the buttons, and throw in a couple ‘pro’ features like remappable back buttons to round out the package and justify the name.
All of this is accomplished well, but Backbone has gone even further and crammed the Pro with a wealth of features geared towards cloud gaming.
It has Bluetooth connectivity that allows it to connect to your PC, laptop, tablet, or smart TV for use with cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, or Amazon Luna. It works well, aside from the often hit or miss ‘instant Bluetooth pairing’ feature, and boasts an impressive forty hours of wireless battery life - up there with some of the best PC controllers.
As with the original Backbone One, the Pro also benefits from fantastic materials across the board. It’s a gorgeous controller that feels incredibly premium and supports the majority of modern devices with its Type-C connector. It offers pass-through charging too, not to mention the robust Backbone app and its numerous handy features like a dedicated game launcher, the option to quickly launch most cloud gaming services, and the ability to remap buttons in custom profiles.
This all comes at a high price, however, putting the Backbone Pro up against some serious competition. It’s worth the investment if you’re ready to go all in on cloud gaming, but mobile gaming purists would likely be better off ditching this functionality with slightly cheaper yet even more comfortable alternatives like the Razer Kishi Ultra.
Things become even more expensive when you factor in the cost of a Backbone Plus subscription, which is $3.99 / £3.99 a month and grants access to a few extra features like game emulators built into the Backbone app and rewards in certain mobile titles.
(Image credit: Future)Backbone Pro: Price and availability- Costs $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95
- One model available in one colorway, black
- Backbone Plus is $3.99 / £3.99 a month
The Backbone Pro costs $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95, putting it a fair chunk above the $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99 asking price of the Backbone One 2nd Gen. For that added cost, you’re getting a larger controller with some added features, namely the remappable rear buttons, plus wireless functionality.
At the time of writing, the Backbone Pro is only available in one colorway: a rather basic black. There’s also no Lightning connector variant for those with older iPhones, either.
At this price, the Backbone Pro faces some pretty stiff competition, namely in the form of the Razer Kishi Ultra. Razer’s product is larger than the Backbone Pro, but more comfortable. It also offers RGB lighting and a fully featured app that, unlike the Backbone App, doesn’t need any kind of subscription to play around with.
Backbone Pro: SpecsPrice
$169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95
Dimensions
7.1 x 11.1 x 2in / 181 x 281 x 50mm
Weight
0.44lbs / 203g
Connection type
Wired (Type-C), Bluetooth
Compatibility
iPhone 15 Series, Android, PC, smart TV, Nintendo Switch
Software
Backbone App
Backbone Pro: Design and features- Looks like a chunkier version of the Backbone One
- Rear buttons and wireless connectivity have been added
- Some unique software features
The Backbone Pro looks like a beefed up version of the Backbone One. It’s significantly thicker with much larger grips that fit more naturally into the palms of your hands. Although the One still wins when it comes to portability, the Pro is undeniably much more comfortable to use and, importantly, is still small enough to fit in your bag or even a large pocket.
On the front of the controller you’ll see the expected face buttons and d-pad. Although it's not immediately obvious, both of these have been redesigned. The buttons use softer, more spongy feeling switches that are quieter than those of the One but just as quick and responsive, while the d-pad is a little less stiff.
Both the buttons and the d-pad are also made from the transparent, glossy and smooth material that was previously used for the buttons of the Backbone One PlayStation Edition. I always preferred this to the more matte look of the buttons of the standard One, so it’s great to see it again here. The two thumbsticks have much more motion than those of the One, making it easier to control precisely, with a concave design rather than a convex one.
Taking the Backbone Pro into your hands, you’ll immediately be able to feel the pleasant dotted texture on the back of the grips in addition to the two new remappable rear inputs. Although predominantly constructed from plastic, the materials across the board are sublime and ooze quality. It’s a little weighty, but well-balanced, so not at all fatiguing to use.
(Image credit: Future)On the bottom of the controller’s grips, you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Type-C connector for charging the controller or your phone via pass-through, plus a new Bluetooth pairing button.
Most of the Backbone Pro’s software features are tied to the compatible Backbone app. It offers the ability to create distinct controller profiles with fully customizable button mapping, thumbstick and trigger dead zones, and more. You can also enable wired compatibility for PC, mobile, and even Nintendo Switch via the bottom Type-C port.
The app also functions as a dedicated game launcher, allowing you to browse compatible titles and even launch a compatible cloud gaming service within the app - though sadly, this latter feature requires the Backbone Plus subscription.
The same is true for the emulation, which lets you play your favorite ROMs directly in the Backbone app, screen recording, live streaming, and even the ability to remap on-screen inputs to physical controls.
This is a fantastic feature set overall, but the fact that it’s gated behind a monthly fee is disappointing - especially when you’re spending this much on a peripheral. You do at least get a seven-day free trial with your purchase, which should be enough time to work out whether the cost is worth it for you.
(Image credit: Future)Backbone Pro: Performance- Great for mobile gaming
- Fits the vast majority of phones
- A bit awkward in Bluetooth
It’s impossible to fault the Backbone Pro when it comes to mobile gaming. Paired with a compatible game like Zenless Zone Zero or Call of Duty Mobile, it delivers reliable performance. The buttons are less clicky than those of the Backbone One, but still very satisfying to press.
The larger thumbsticks also make it much more suitable for fast-paced shooters, offering a much greater level of control. The triggers are more ergonomic, too, with an increased area and a subtle grippy pattern. The new rear buttons are easy to access and, importantly, offer more than enough resistance to make it difficult to hit them by accident.
Thanks to its extending design, the controller fits an impressive range of devices, especially with the included adapters. I had no difficulty fitting an iPhone 15 Plus with a thin case and it even accommodated my frankly ridiculously oversized Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RSR. A foldable should fit too, as there was plenty of space for the Oppo Find N5 in its included case.
The Pro has been stuffed with a battery that offers more than forty hours of juice, so you can use it as a Bluetooth controller. The brand is heavily pushing this product as a cloud gaming peripheral, though in my testing, it still worked perfectly with common PC gaming launchers like Steam.
(Image credit: Future)Performance is also good when it comes to the likes of Xbox Cloud Gaming, and I did really appreciate the ability to quickly launch the service straight from the Backbone app if you want to take the action with you.
I will say that the Backbone Pro definitely feels worse to use without a phone inside. It’s noticeably wider than the DualSense or Xbox Wireless Controller, but with much smaller buttons that are harder to hit reliably in comparison. Minus the stability of a phone, there’s also a tiny but noticeable degree of flex on both slides caused by the extending mechanism which I found distracting.
The ‘Instant Bluetooth Pairing’ feature, which is designed to instantly swap between your saved devices at the click of a button, also disappoints. It works well with tablets and smart TVs, but I had particular difficulty getting it to reliably connect to my PC, where the controller repeatedly appeared as a wholly new device in my Bluetooth settings - very annoying when I just wanted to dive into a quick cloud-streamed Halo Infinite match.
(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Backbone Pro?Buy it if...You want a premium feel from your mobile controller
The Backbone Pro is flawless from a materials standpoint. It uses high-quality plastic that is fantastic in the hands. If Apple made a controller, it would undoubtedly feel something like this.
You want the ‘Pro’ features
If you love the Backbone One, but have always wanted some more high-end additions like remappable rear buttons then the Backbone Pro is for you.
You want an all-in-one peripheral
If you only want to buy one controller to meet both your mobile gaming and cloud gaming needs, then the Backbone Pro is a solid pick.
You already have a different Bluetooth pad
If you already own a DualSense or Xbox Wireless Controller, then the Backbone Pro is a lot less tempting. You lose the option to play on mobile, of course, but both those options are going to feel better in your hands when you’re cloud gaming.
Not keen on the Backbone Pro? Check out these worthy alternatives.
Backbone Pro
Razer Kishi Ultra
Backbone One 2nd Gen
Price
$169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95
$149.99 / £149.99 / AU$269.95
$99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99
Dimensions
7.1 x 11.1 x 2in / 181 x 281 x 50mm
9.63 x 4.36 x 2.53in / 243 x 111 x 64mm
6.93 x 3.70 x 1.34in / 176 x 94 x 34mm
Weight
0.44lbs / 203g
0.59 lbs / 266g
0.30lbs / 138g
Connection type
Wired (Type-C), Bluetooth
Wired (Type-C)
Wired (Type-C / Lightning)
Compatibility
iPhone 15 Series, Android, PC, smart TV, Nintendo Switch
iPhone 15 Series, iPad Mini, Android
iPhone 15 Series, Android / iPhone 14 series, and earlier
Software
Backbone App
Razer Nexus App
Backbone App
Razer Kishi Ultra
The Razer Kishi Ultra is the premium mobile controller to beat. It comes in cheaper than the Backbone Pro and is larger, but it is much more comfortable to use and offers a similar set of features. It’s the one to pick if you don’t want the wireless functionality.
Read our full Razer Kishi Ultra review
Backbone One 2nd Gen
The latest model of the Backbone One is also a good choice. It’s cheaper than the Pro, but is easier to transport and still performs well. It does lack the back buttons and wireless functionality, though.
Read our full Backbone One 2nd Gen review
(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Backbone Pro- Tested for more than three months
- Tried with a wide range of games
- Test with multiple phones and devices
I tested the Backbone Pro for over three months, using it as my go-to mobile controller for most of that time. I played plenty of mobile games using it, including lots of Call of Duty Mobile and Zenless Zone Zero. I also managed a complete playthrough of Hitman: Blood Money - Reprisal and tried some Asphalt Legends.
This was in addition to lots of cloud gaming on both mobile and my PC, mainly via Xbox Cloud Gaming as part of my Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Tested games included Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Halo Infinite, and Gears of War Reloaded.
I used the controller with my current daily driver, the Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RSR, but also tested its fit with a range of other devices.
Throughout the testing process, I compared my hands-on experience with that of other mobile controllers such as the Razer Kishi Ultra, Backbone One 2nd Gen, Turtle Beach Atom, Acer Nitro Mobile Controller, GameSir X2S Type-C, Asus ROG Tessen, and more.
First reviewed September 2025
Categories: Reviews
PacketStream Review: Pros & Cons, Features, Ratings, Pricing and more
PacketStream started its journey in California in 2018, when it was established by the entrepreneur duo Arthur Aivazian and Ronald Bell. They imagined it as a company solving a particular need in the market - offering a network of peer-to-peer (P2P) residential proxies, which are IP addresses sourced from real devices around the world, allowing users to bypass geographic restrictions when accessing various kinds of data.
As opposed to many other residential proxy providers, which are centralized, PacketStream’s peer-to-peer nature allows acquiring and selling residential proxies to customers directly. In other words, users buy or sell residential IPs from and to one another. This system makes proxies cheaper, albeit at the cost of reliability and speed.
Another problem that this platform could face is the risk of unreliable IP addresses potentially being added to the network. This is because PacketStream, despite offering secure proxies in general, doesn’t entirely control the IPs sold through its network.
PacketStream: Plans and PricingUnlike many proxy providers out there with complex pricing plans, PacketStream keeps things simple, charging per bandwidth, with a flat fee of $1 per GB. This way, you get access to the entire network of residential proxies, which is a lot more straightforward and may even be a cheaper alternative to providers charging for individual IP addresses.
Indeed, $1 per GB is one of the most affordable pricing options in the industry, as most competitors charge a lot more. These include IPRoyal with $6.5 per GB, Bright Data with $8.40 per GB, and Webshare with $2.8 per GB (depending on the specific package you selected).
That said, you’ll need to purchase at least 50 GB, which will set you back by $50. This means you can’t buy just $1 of bandwidth to take the platform for a spin before deciding - the 50 GB minimum is a must. Still, PacketStream offers rotating proxies (alongside their static counterparts), so if one IP address doesn’t work, you can switch to a different one in a jiffy.
PacketStream offers a free trial, but without a standardized process. You need to contact the sales team to request this trial, which is futile for most individual users. The free trial is only suitable for people who plan to spend significant sums on proxies. After all, why contact a sales team if you just need to test a few gigabytes worth of proxies?
PacketStream accepts payments through PayPal and major credit cards.
PacketStream: FeaturesPacketStream allows users not just to buy proxies, but also to acquire them and sell them on to offset costs, and sell your unused device bandwidth for profit, offering it at prices starting at $0.10 per GB. The minimum payout is $5 and is sent to your PayPal account once per week with a 3% fee applied to cashouts.
Interestingly, Microsoft Defender blocked the download and installation of PacketStream, identifying it as a program that “displays deceptive product messages.” This is typically how ‘scareware’ is described, or software that makes deceptive or fraudulent claims about your computer’s health to trick you into buying unnecessary or potentially unwanted products, which may not be inherently malicious in the same way as other malware.
However, since PacketStream doesn’t make any scary claims about your device, the flagging as potentially malicious could be due to the application’s process of using your computer to route third-party traffic when you share your bandwidth with other users. Hence, the antivirus interprets the app’s behavior as unusual or questionable. So, if you fail to install PacketStream, this could be the reason.
Residential ProxiesPacketStream offers a P2P residential proxy network spanning 190 countries. These proxies are sourced from real devices whose owners sell their bandwidth on the PacketStream network. You don’t have to worry about illegally sourced IP addresses, a major problem plaguing proxy providers. Every IP address on PacketStream was consensually added by its owner to earn money.
The company has both randomized and static IP options on offer, with randomized IPs changing with every new request to provide a high level of anonymity. Static IPs, on the other hand, remain consistent for scenarios where a single and steady IP address is required. Selection of the type of residential proxy you need is done as part of the request when buying access.
PacketStream’s proxy IP addresses were reliable during our test and offered reasonable speeds. We chose IP addresses from different countries, and they provided fast connections, although the speed varies depending on the country. PacketStream lets you choose proxies from roughly 190 countries, but you can’t select by city, which we consider a disadvantage. Many rival proxy providers let you choose proxies from specific cities to increase your chances of evading geographical restrictions.
(Image credit: PacketStream )The platform supports HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS proxy protocols, which differ in how they handle traffic and their compatibility, each having its own strengths and downsides. Having the latter option in particular is important as it reduces network delays and provides better speeds than HTTP/HTTPS, making it ideal for high-speed, general-purpose tasks like P2P sharing or streaming. The other two, on their part, offer benefits like content caching and content filtering.
Residential proxies can be used for many things. A good example is data scraping, wherein people use proxies to bypass website geo-restrictions and scrape relevant information.
Suppose you run a website that tracks the prices of commodities and delivers this data to users. Running a price monitoring site requires extracting data frequently and quickly from many websites. The websites (primary data sources) are privy to external data scraping and block it by implementing geographical and IP restrictions. They can identify specific IPs from data scraping bots and block them from further access. They can also ban IP addresses of an entire country from accessing their information.
PacketStream gives you access to a large network of residential IP addresses to bypass restrictions and scrape commodity price data. If one IP address gets discovered and blocked, just switch to another and try your luck.) Although specific numbers may differ, this proxy provider has millions of IP addresses across 190 countries, so you’ll have no fear of running out of new proxies to bypass geographical restrictions on websites and services.
Online retail is another common use case for residential proxies. Many people use automated bots to snap up fast-selling products, placing orders before they run out of stock. However, e-commerce sites don’t like this and often blocklist bot IP addresses. PacketStream’s residential proxies let users circumvent this block and get their desired product.
As far as an e-commerce site is concerned, residential proxies belong to legitimate devices. It’s challenging for them to detect and block these proxies. Even when they do, you can switch to another proxy and visit the e-commerce site. PacketStream’s large network of residential proxies allows people to utilize automated scripts to bid for products.
One major drawback is that PacketStream offers only residential IPs. It doesn’t provide datacenter IPs, which are faster and more reliable. Datacenter IPs are sourced from dedicated servers with more speed, making them ideal for massive data scraping tasks. Large enterprises are the main users of datacenter proxies, but PacketStream doesn’t serve this cohort well. This proxy provider best suits individuals and small businesses seeking affordable residential proxies.
PacketStream doesn’t offer mobile-specific IPs. Mobile device IP addresses are present on this P2P network, but you can’t specifically choose that option. Many businesses use mobile IPs for app testing and ad verification, but performing these tasks with PacketStream is difficult.
Likewise, PacketStream doesn’t offer proxies sourced directly from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). ISP proxies provide higher data throughput and reduced delay than residential proxies, but you can’t get them on PacketStream.)
Selling Bandwidth(PacketStream lets users sell their unused bandwidth and make money. You can add your IP address to the network and earn money when people use your device as a proxy. Pricing is $0.10 per GB, which can help you offset the cost of buying bandwidth on PacketStream.
Sharing your bandwidth requires downloading the PacketStream client on your PC. This client is available on Windows and macOS, as well as on Linux, where it can be installed by running a specific command via Docker. It can run even on low-end PCs. The primary requirement is a stable internet connection.
After installing the PacketStream PC app, you can open it anytime and activate a shared connection. Your payout is automatically calculated based on the amount of data your shared connection transmits. Closing the PacketStream app immediately terminates the shared connection, giving you complete control over the process. PacketStream can’t use your connection without your consent, which you give by opening the app.
There’s no limit to the amount of bandwidth you can share. The minimum payout is $5 for 50 GB of bandwidth, which makes sense because 50 GB is the minimum amount of bandwidth that PacketStream users can buy. A 3% fee applies to every payout.
Reseller APIPacketStream offers reselling/white-label services. This feature is for people interested in starting their own proxy providers. In that case, you can sell PacketStream’s proxies under your own branding and earn money. PacketStream provides a bare-bones version of its platform, which you can customize to build a brand atop the company’s infrastructure.
(Image credit: PacketStream )Resellers provide access to the same network of proxies available on PacketStream. Any device added to PacketStream’s network will become available on your proxy provider. This feature isn’t for individual users, but we consider it worth discussing to give a complete PacketStream review.
PacketStream: Ease of UsePacketStream outshines many competitors in the user-friendliness criterion. It arguably has the simplest interface we’ve encountered in a proxy provider, thanks partly to its limited features (there’s not much to navigate).
(Image credit: PacketStream )All features are neatly arranged on the left menu, and the main dashboard lies on the right side. With a white background and a few contrasting colors, PacketStream’s interface feels visually appealing and easy to navigate. The average person won’t have any issues understanding this interface: this can’t be said for some proxy providers.
There’s a drawback, though. PacketStream doesn’t offer a browser extension to manage proxies. You need the desktop interface to manage and deploy new proxies, unlike other proxies with browser extensions for seamless proxy management. An extension lets you switch proxies at the click of a single button, but PacketStream doesn’t provide this benefit.
PacketStream: Customer SupportAn area where PacketStream lags behind its competitors is customer support. It offers direct support only via email, with no live chat or telephone option. You can send a support email and expect a response within 48 hours, but there’s no option to hold a real-time conversation with support staff.
Also, PacketStream doesn’t provide as many self-help support resources as most competitors. There’s a FAQ section and user guides on the website, but they aren’t as detailed as what we’ve seen in other proxy providers.
PacketStream: The CompetitionPacketStream has many competitors, the most notable being Bright Data, Oxylabs, and Decodo (formerly Smartproxy).
Bright Data offers residential, ISP, and datacenter proxies. It also offers advanced web scraping APIs as pre-built datasets. In contrast, PacketStream offers none of these except residential IPs. If you need PacketStream’s proxies for automated data scraping, you’ll need an external platform for the APIs. However, at $1 per GB, PacketStream’s residential proxy service is much more affordable than Bright Data’s, which costs around $8.4 per GB.
Oxylabs provides residential, ISP, and datacenter proxies, with a massive pool of over 100 million IP addresses. It also provides a Web Unblocker and web scraping APIs for enterprises. Oxylabs is undoubtedly the more sophisticated platform. It offers more reliable and speedy proxy IPs, with complete control over its proxy network, unlike peer-to-peer PacketStream. However, Oxylabs’ residential IPs cost $8 per GB, compared to PacketStream’s $1.
Webshare offers residential, ISP, and datacenter proxies, but not web scraping APIs. Its pool of 80 million+ IP addresses across 195 countries is on par with Oxylabs and Bright Data but larger than PacketStream. With pricing as low as $2.8 per GB, Webshare is one of the most affordable proxy providers for enterprises. Yet, PacketStream’s $1 per GB beats it in pricing.
In summary, PacketStream lags slightly behind most competitors in certain advanced features and customer support. However, it outperforms them in ease of use and affordability, helped by the lower costs of running a P2P network and the opportunity to earn money through offering your bandwidth for other users.
PacketStream: Final wordsPacketStream is among the most affordable residential IP providers in terms of price per GB, although the minimum purchase is worth $50. This makes it ideal for individual users or small businesses that require rotating and static proxies for mundane online activities. Having said that, enterprises will probably find it lacking for any large-scale data scraping needs. Besides, it lacks the more reliable datacenter and ISP proxies and has limited customer support.
Categories: Reviews
I wore the Apple Watch SE 3 for a week and it's the best Apple Watch for most people
Apple Watch SE 3: One-Minute Review
What if I told you Apple has managed to trickle down nearly all the major features you’d expect from an Apple Watch into an entry-level model that doesn’t break the bank and still feels right at home in the lineup?
That’s exactly what I found after testing the brand-new Apple Watch SE 3 for nearly a week.
The SE 3 doesn’t reinvent the wheel – it’s very much a classic Apple Watch. It comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, and two colors. It still has the Digital Crown, uses the same charger, and sits on the wrist just like before. But it finally fixes one of the biggest complaints with the SE line by adding an Always-On display.
No, the display doesn’t slope at the edges like the newer Series models, but that’s not really a drawback here. The SE 3 still looks and feels like a classic Apple Watch, with an aluminum build, tougher Ion-X glass, and solid sizing that make it both durable and practical – especially for parents buying one for kids. The bezels are a bit thicker, and brightness tops out at 1,000 nits, which can make it harder to see in direct sunlight, but for everyday use, the screen gets the job done.
Performance is where the SE 3 really shines. With the same S10 chip that powers the Series 11 and Ultra 3, watchOS 26 feels just as smooth here as it does on those higher-end models. Apps open instantly, navigation is quick, and gestures like Double Tap and the new Wrist Flick add a nice layer of convenience. Sure, you don’t get every health feature – there’s no ECG, Blood Oxygen, or Sleep Apnea tracking – but the essentials are here: heart rate tracking with alerts, the new Sleep Score with retroactive trends, activity tracking, and temperature sensing for cycle tracking.
Compared to the SE 2, this is a big step forward. It’s faster across the board, handles daily tasks with ease, and finally supports fast charging. Battery life is still rated at 18 hours, but with Low Power Mode you can stretch it closer to 32 if needed. In my testing, it comfortably lasted a full day, even with sleep tracking. The new 5G antenna adds efficiency if you opt for the LTE model, though speeds feel about the same as before.
At $249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm version, there’s never been a better Apple Watch from a pure value perspective. And if you don’t need the ultra-modern slimmed-down looks of the Series 11, the rugged features of the Ultra 3, and can live without ECG, Blood Oxygen, or Sleep Apnea tracking, then the Apple Watch SE 3 is likely the model for you.
Apple Watch SE 3: SpecsApple Watch SE 3: SpecificationsComponent
Apple Watch SE 3
Price
From $249 / £219 / AU$399
Dimensions
40 x 34 x 10.7mm (40mm), 44 x 38 x 10.7mm (44mm)
Weight
26g (40mm) or 32.9g (44mm)
Case/Bezel
Aluminum
Display
Always-On Retina LTPO display with OLED, Ion-X scratch-resistant.
GPS
L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Battery Life
18 hours of battery life or 36 hours in Low Power mode
Connection
Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE 5G (Optional)
Water Resistance
WR50 and IP7X
Apple Watch SE 3: Price and Availability- $249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm
- $279 / £249 / AU$449 for the 44mm
- Cellular 5G connectivity costs extra
As the entry-level model, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the most affordable Apple Watch in the lineup. It starts at $249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm version with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but jumps to $279 / £249 / AU$449 for the 44mm.
If you want cellular connectivity, the 40mm Apple Watch SE costs $299 / £289 / AU$489, or $329 / £319 / AU$539 for the 44mm. Note that activating service will be an additional monthly cost with your carrier.
Regardless of size or connectivity, you’ll be able to pick between Starlight or Midnight. The Apple Watch SE 3 is available for pre-order now and launches on September 19, 2025.
- Value score: 5/5
- The Apple Watch SE now has an always-on display
- It can run more complex watch faces
- It doesn't use the Series 10 / 11 body, but an older model
The Apple Watch SE 3 doesn’t stray from Apple’s proven formula and looks much like an Apple Watch Series 9 or older. It features an aluminum shell with a nylon composite back – so yes, you can put the rumor of an all-plastic build to rest once again – and comes in two sizes: 40mm or 44mm.
The bezels around the LTPO OLED display are thicker than those on the Series 10 or 11, which curve down at the edges. But considering the price, that feels like a fair compromise – especially since it’s an Always-On display. Even when it’s not in use, it dims the brightness and slows the refresh rate so you can still see the time and any complications you’ve set.
The display also protected with the latest Ion-X glass, bringing the screen's durability on par with the Series 11 and making it four times more durable than the SE 2. Considering many parents choose the SE for kids, that extra toughness is a major win.
This removes one of the biggest reasons for skipping the SE in favor of a pricier model: you no longer have to give up the Always-On display. Once you’ve used it, you really can’t go back. In a meeting or a class, you can simply glance down – or check a notification – without raising your wrist.
While it feels smaller compared to the 46mm Series 10 or 49mm Ultra 3, it still provides plenty of room for navigation. You can scroll through Photos, swipe through Maps, check an extended forecast, and even view Notes (a new perk of watchOS 26). The Flow watch face, with its bubble Liquid Glass typeface set against a lava lamp-like background, runs smoothly. The display is harder to view in direct sunlight and fairly reflective, and it tops out at 1,000 nits of brightness.
Like any other Apple Watch, the SE 3 has the Digital Crown – a key interface control – and the main button on the right-hand side. It also features a two-speaker grille, like the Series 11, and you can play music, listen to podcasts, or take calls on speakerphone. It’s not on par with AirPods Pro 3, but it’s surprisingly loud.
The band system hasn’t changed, but is a little complex. The SE 3 40mm will work with bands designed for older Apple Watches up to 41mm in size. The 44mm SE 3 will work with bands for itself, older 45mm Apple Watches, and any Apple Watch Series 10 or 11.
Those larger bands can also be used with other large watches like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 – but it doesn't work the other way around, as Ultra 3 bands can't be used for the SE 3. Phew!
Charging is unchanged, too: the SE 3 uses the rear sensor stack with the included USB-C magnetic disc charger.
If you’re upgrading from the SE 2, the case sizes are identical: 44mm by 38mm by 10.7mm, or 40mm by 34mm by 10.7mm. Color options are now just two – Starlight or Midnight – and I do wish Apple offered more variety. Of course, you can add personality through first- or third-party bands.
It might not be the most modern-looking Apple Watch, but the SE 3 still holds its own against other smartwatches. And at the same MSRP as the previous generation, with more features included, it’s likely the best value in the entire lineup.
- Design score: 4 /5
- Gestures come in really handy on the SE 3
- It offers most, but not all, of the health features that the Apple Watch is known for
- The new Sleep Score is a major standout
I’ve been testing the Apple Watch SE 3 alongside the Series 11 and the Ultra 3, and while that might seem like an easy way to spot differences, all three are powered by the same Apple-made S10 chip. Specifically, it’s a 64-bit dual-core processor with a GPU and a 4-core Neural Engine, and it ensures watchOS 26 runs smoothly.
This means the most affordable SE 3 is nearly as capable as the most expensive Ultra 3 or the mid-range Series 11. After a quick setup, I was greeted with Apple’s iconic “hello” in Liquid Glass and could take a tour of watchOS 26. That’s especially helpful since the SE 3 may be someone’s first Apple Watch.
Navigation is simple: your home screen is your chosen watch face, which you can long-press to edit or swap. Click the main button on the right to pull up Control Center for quick settings, or press the Digital Crown to view all your apps. Everything runs quickly here.
Two gesture controls stand out. Double Tap lets you pinch your forefinger and thumb to perform actions like answering a call, opening an app, or controlling music. Wrist Flick, new with watchOS 26, lets you flick your wrist back to return to the interface. After using it daily, I’ve wondered why it wasn’t available before.
The S10 chip also enables several health features, although compared to the Series 11 or Ultra 3, you’re missing Hypertension Notifications, Blood Oxygen tracking, ECG, and Sleep Apnea Notifications on the SE 3.
The SE 3 does offer Sleep Tracking with the new Sleep Score, which gives you a rating – Very Low, Low, OK, High, or Excellent – and a score from 0 to 100. If you’ve tracked sleep before, it retroactively assigns scores to show trends. It uses the same second-generation heart rate sensor stack as the SE 2, providing monitoring with alerts for low, high, and irregular rhythms. You also get full activity tracking and temperature sensing from a wrist sensor, which upgrades cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates.
Overall, the SE 3 delivers the core health and activity tracking you’d expect from a smartwatch. In side-by-side use with the Series 11 and Ultra 3, it produced similar results for workouts, sleep, and heart rate.
Beyond the new media playback function, it also gets the voice isolation feature for calls that debuted with the Series 10. This means you can comfortably take calls in noisy environments, like at a ballpark or a botanical garden, without worrying the person on the other end won’t hear you. It does an excellent job of focusing on your voice and blocking background noise.
- Features score: 4.5/5
- It offers the same performance as the Series 11 or Ultra 3
- watchOS 26 runs very well here with fluid and responsive interactions
- You get basic fast charging
The Apple Watch SE 3 performs in line with the Series 11 and Ultra 3. Swapping and customizing watch faces happens smoothly, applications open quickly, and navigation around watchOS 26 feels fluid with the Liquid Glass updates.
It’s also noticeably faster than the SE 2. Apple says it’s up to 30% faster with the GPU and has 60% more transistors in the CPU. It’s a lot of jargon, but in practice, it runs laps around the SE 2 in day-to-day use—opening apps, scrolling through photos, starting workouts, and running third-party apps.
This responsiveness makes sense considering the SE 2 was released three years ago and powered by the S8 chip. The S10 ensures watchOS 26 runs well across the board, from activity and workout tracking to health monitoring.
It also helps extend battery life, which on my SE 2 has been showing its age. Apple rates the SE 3 for up to 18 hours, the same as the SE 2, but with a newer lithium-ion battery and Low Power Mode support. If enabled, you’ll lose some functionality, including the Always-On display, but it can stretch runtime to 32 hours.
In TechRadar’s testing with the SE 2, it often exceeded the 18-hour window. With the SE 3, depending on use, it can similarly last a full day with moderate use, including sleep tracking. As with the Series 10, you’ll likely need to recharge once in the morning or evening.
The new 5G antenna on the LTE-enabled model may improve efficiency. It adds 5G alongside 4G LTE, and in my tests, it performed well for messages, calls, and emails when not connected to my iPhone, though speeds were about the same as previous Apple Watches.
Finally, fast charging has arrived on the Apple Watch SE, and it’s a welcome addition. According to Apple, with the included charger and a 20-watt power brick, you can go from 0% to 80% in about 45 minutes. In practice, it was closer to an hour when charging from completely dead, but it hit 30% in about 15 minutes, which is enough for a quick top-up before bed or in the morning.
All in all, the Apple Watch SE 3’s performance doesn’t leave you wanting more. Its speed and responsiveness are in line with the Series 11 and Ultra 3, just in a smaller build with thicker bezels.
- Performance score: 5 /5
Value
Simply outstanding.
5 / 5
Design
An older model Apple Watch with a screen durability upgrade.
4 / 5
Features
watchOS 26 shines here.
4.5 / 5
Performance
On par with a more expensive watch.
5 / 5
Buy it if…You're getting your first Apple Watch
There's never been a better entry point into Apple's wearable ecosystem, as you'll get everything you expect and then some more here.View Deal
You don't need every possible feature
The Apple Watch SE 3 effectively trickles down all the major features you'd expect from an Apple Watch, but does miss a few of the more advanced ones. As long as you're cool with missing those, this is the Apple Watch for you.View Deal
Don’t buy it if…You need advanced health features
The Series 11 or Ultra 3 offer more robust features, including Hypertension Notifications, ECG, and Sleep Apnea DetectionView Deal
You want a more impressive screen
The Series 11 screen not only gets brighter, but it slopes down the edges for better off-axis viewingView Deal
Apple Watch SE 3: How I TestedI've been testing and reviewing smartwatches for many years and was an early adopter of the original Apple Watch, buying one on launch day in 2015. Since then, I've reviewed many smartwatches, including multiple Apple Watches and the previous SE models. My testing of the Apple Watch SE 3 began after unboxing it and setting it up with my iPhone.
I used it for nearly a week, testing all aspects of the device, including the new software features introduced in the watchOS 26 update and the upgraded hardware—most notably the S10 chip. I aimed to run down the battery under both moderate and heavy usage.
I compared it against the Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, as well as the new Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. For workout and activity tracking, I tested it not only against other Apple Watches but also against an Oura Ring, a Galaxy Watch 7, and a Pixel Watch 3.
First reviewed September 2025.
Categories: Reviews
Apple Watch Series 11 review: Finally, a mainline Apple Watch that can go the distance
Apple Watch Series 11: One-minute review
The Apple Watch Series 11 looks a lot like the Apple Watch Series 10 – both have the same rounded-square design and come in 42mm and 46mm sizes, and both are just 9.7mm thick, making them the thinnest Apple Watches you can buy. You still get two speakers on the left, the Digital Crown and side button on the right, and ample water and sweat resistance.
The big highlight here is the display: an Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED that drops down to 1Hz, peaks at 2,000 nits for visibility in direct sunlight, and is protected by Ion-X glass that’s twice as scratch-resistant as the Series 10.
On the software side, watchOS 26 refreshes the interface with Liquid Glass elements and the new Flow watch face, while an updated Photos watch face maybe steals the show. With the latest watchOS, you get Notes on your wrist, and call screening makes it easy to dodge spam. Additionally, gestures build on the familiar Double Tap with a new Wrist Flick that lets you go back a step with – you've guessed it – a flick of your wrist.
Health tracking is as comprehensive as ever, with heart-rate alerts, ECG; wrist temperature, respiratory rate and cycle tracking, and hearing health, plus two additions. Hypertension Notifications, FDA-approved in the US and rolling out to more than 150 countries, use the optical sensor and Apple’s algorithm to flag possible high blood pressure. You will, of course, want to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis if you get an alert.
Sleep Score finally turns your sleep tracking data into something easily digestible, giving you a 0–100 rating with color-coded factors, and even retroactively scoring past nights. And blood oxygen tracking is back in the US after an August 2025 update.
Performance is powered by the same chip as the Series 10. Inside the Series 11 is the S10 chip with a dual-core CPU, GPU, and 4-core Neural Engine. In testing, both Apple apps and third-party ones like Flighty, Tesla, and Carrot Weather opened quickly and ran smoothly.
The bigger story is battery life: battery capacity is up 9% on the 42mm model and 11% on the 46mm. Apple rates both models for 24 hours of typical use and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode. In practice, I pulled my 46mm review device off the charger at 54% one night, slept with tracking enabled, and didn’t hit 1% until after 5pm the next day – so I got about 17 hours from half a charge. With light use, a full day and a half is very realistic.
A new 5G antenna for the LTE models makes using internet services faster when you're away from your iPhone. And the onboard mics continue to impress – even during a noisy, sold-out exhibition baseball game at Yankee Stadium, calls came through clearly, with the person on the other end hearing me well.
The Series 11 isn’t a radical redesign, but between the refined durability, new health features, and the much-needed battery gains, it feels like the most capable and balanced Apple Watch yet.
That said, if you’re rocking a Series 10, you likely don’t need an upgrade unless you’re eager for better battery life. Those coming from an older Apple Watch, like an SE or a Series 8 or earlier, will see a bigger difference in performance – although the new Apple Watch SE 3 is equally compelling in this respect.
Apple Watch Series 11: SpecsApple Watch Series 11: SpecificationsComponent
Apple Watch Series 11
Price
From $399 / £369 / AU$679
Dimensions
42mm x 36mm x 9.7mm (42mm), 46mm x 39mm x 9.7mm (46mm)
Weight
30.3g (42mm); 37.8g (46mm)
Case/Bezel
Aluminum with a metal back or Titanium (100% recycled)
Display
Always-on Retina LTPO3 display Wide-angle OLED at 374 by 446 (42mm) 416 by 496 (46mm). Ion-X scratch-resistant
GPS
L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou
Battery Life
24 hours, 38 hours in Low Power Mode
Connection
Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, second-generation ultra-wideband chip, and 5G (Optional)
Water Resistance
WR50 and IP7X
Apple Watch Series 11: Price and availability- $399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 40mm
- $429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 44mm
- Cellular costs extra
The Apple Watch Series 11 42mm with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity starts at $399 / £369 / AU$679 for the entry-level aluminum finish. That's the same price as the Series 10 in the US, and a price cut if you're in the UK; however, there's a slight increase for Australia. The larger 46mm model with the same connectivity, also in aluminum, starts at $429 / £399 / AU$699 – that's the same price as last year in the US and Australia, while again UK gets a price cut.
Cellular connectivity, which now includes 5G access, will cost you a bit more. For instance, in the United States, the Series 11 is $100 more in either size, plus the cost of a monthly plan. The Apple Watch Series 11 in aluminum comes in a new Space Gray finish as well as Jet Black, Rose Gold, and Silver, and in Slate, Gold, or Natural Polished Titanium finishes.
The Apple Watch Series 11 is up for order now in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond, with an official launch date of September 19, 2025.
- Value score: 4/5
- Ultra-thin build with improved durability
- All your existing bands and chargers will work here
- watchOS 26 refreshes the design
Other than the new colors for the aluminum and titanium finishes, the Apple Watch Series 11 is pretty much indistinguishable from the Apple Watch Series 10. Placing my 46mm Series 11 review device next to a Series 10 I see an identical rounded-square Apple Watch, aside from the updated paint job; this year, my testing unit is in Space Gray, whereas last year’s was in Jet Black.
The overall similarities here aren’t necessarily a negative. Apple, now 11 years into the Apple Watch, seems set on this look for the core of its smartwatch lineup, and it’s refining the formula rather than reinventing it. I also really liked the changes the Series 10 ushered in over the Series 9 last year – mainly thinning out the overall build and sloping the screen down the edges – so I'm very happy that Series 11 retains those.
Both the 46mm and 42mm models are just 9.7mm thick, meaning they barely protrude from your wrist and remain the thinnest Apple Watches yet; there were times when I forgot it was even there during my seven days of testing.
Just like the Series 10, the Series 11 measures 42 x 36 x 9.7mm for the smaller 42mm size, and 46 x 39 x 9.7mm for the 46mm size. Both models weigh ever so slightly more than the previous generation, but you’d be hard pressed to feel it on your wrist in daily use.
You still have two speakers on the left-hand side, with the Digital Crown and main button on the right. It’s all very familiar to anyone who’s used an Apple Watch before, and easy enough to get the hang of if you haven't.
Furthermore, while other smartwatch makers have experimented with different types of band attachments, Apple is sticking with what it's used since the original Apple Watch. That’s great news if you already have a collection of bands, or if you’re adding new ones. I’m especially fond of the new Nike Run Sport Loops; they’re comfy and fit well.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)As well as sticking with the ultra-low profile, this year’s Apple Watch also keeps the excellent display that its predecessor introduced. It's an always-on Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED display – that’s a lot of tech jargon, but the gist is vibrant colors, deep contrast, and the ability for the refresh rate to drop to as low as a 1Hz. This means that watch faces like Flux and Reflections still update subtly in always-on mode.
The screen also gets plenty bright – up to 2,000 nits – for use in direct sunlight or under harsh artificial lighting, and the Ion-X glass layer is now twice as scratch-resistant as before. Considering the entire front of the watch is all screen, it’s a welcome improvement in durability, and it complements the WR50 and IP7X sweat and water resistance ratings, unchanged from the Series 10.
While the internals have been re-engineered, the outer build is mostly the same, extending to the rear. Here, you’ll find the main sensor stack, which protrudes slightly. A slightly different colored line around the rim denotes the antenna stack if you opt for a cellular Apple Watch Series 11.
As a whole, the Apple Watch Series 11 design is familiar, but still feels modern alongside other flagship smartwatches. It complements a variety of styles while still offering the smooth, fluid response you’d expect, and a large enough touchscreen to make watchOS 26 easy to navigate. Those wanting something entirely different may want to look to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, or wait for a future redesign.
- Design score: 4 / 5
- The new Glow watch face is engaging and shows off Liquid Glass well
- watchOS 26 is filled with new features, including an useful new gesture
- Sleep Score is a long-awaited arrival that's executed perfectly
Out of the box, the Apple Watch Series 11 runs watchOS 26 – a packed update that brings a fresh look to the core interface. And yes, Liquid Glass is finally on your wrist. You’ll see this in subtle navigation elements that are now translucent, as well as in watch faces.
The Photos face now lets you place numerals for time or complications above the image, giving a better sense of depth. However, the new Flow watch face might be the purest form of Liquid Glass on the Series 11 – or any Apple Watch. Think bubble-glass numerals with a lava-lamp-like liquid flowing behind them. True to Apple Watch form, you can customize these by color and typeface.
It’s a really fun addition, and joins more than a dozen built-in faces. watchOS 26 also brings the Notes app to your wrist, which I’ve found handy for jotting down quick thoughts or referencing notes created on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Call screening also comes to your wrist, especially helpful with a cellular plan, letting you see if it’s spam before answering.
The Series 11 also supports gestures like Double Tap, which lets you control navigation with a pinch between your forefinger and thumb – invaluable, in my opinion. The new Wrist Flick gesture, which lets you flick the watch backward to go back a step, is even handier for one-handed use.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)Thanks to the sensor array and new software, the Series 11 covers all the expected health features: heart-rate tracking and alerts, ECG, wrist temperature, respiratory rate, cycle tracking, and hearing health.
A major new addition this year is Hypertension Notifications. Also available on the Series 9, Series 10, Ultra 2 and Ultra 3), this feature can alert you to possible hypertension – high blood pressure – over a rolling day. In the US, it’s FDA-approved as of September 15, 2025, and will be available in over 150 countries.
Hypertension Notifications use the optical heart-rate sensor to analyze pulse signals and morphology through Apple’s algorithm, validated by internal and external studies. If it detects signs of possible hypertension, you’ll get a notification – but of course you should still see a doctor to get checked out.
Sleep Score is another welcome new feature. The Apple Watch has long tracked sleep, but has never presented the data in a digestible way. Now, you’ll wake to a score from 0 to 100, rated from Very Low to Excellent. A color-coded ring breaks down bedtime, duration, and interruptions. It’s much more actionable, in line with devices like the Galaxy Watch, Whoop, and Oura Ring.
Best of all, Apple retroactively assigns a Sleep Score to your past tracked nights, making it easier to spot trends. Like Hypertension Notifications, it’s also available on other models that support watchOS 26.
Blood oxygen tracking also returns in the US, after its August 2025 reinstatement. The Series 11 (and other supported models) can once again take blood oxygen readings, with results viewable in the Health app.
Just like the Series 10, the Series 11 features redesigned speakers, with dozens of precision holes forming two grilles on the left side. They sound similar to the Series 10 – passable for a song or voice memo.
The real standout is the onboard microphones, which still pick up your voice clearly even in noisy environments – at a noisy Yankee Stadium, my brother on the other end of a call could hear me without issue.
- Features score: 4 / 5
- Finally, a larger battery inside an Apple Watch
- The Series 11 can last for up to 24 hours and supports fast-charging
- It's the same S10 chip as the previous generation, but feels responsive
No, the processor here isn’t new, but the bigger battery is. Both the 42mm and 46mm models now pack larger batteries – about 9% bigger on the 42mm, 11% on the 46mm. Apple claims this extends the runtime from 18 hours to 24 hours with regular use, and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode.
So how does it perform? On Sunday night, I picked it up from the charger at 54%, wore it through sleep tracking, woke up with 42% left, and it didn’t hit 1% until after 5pm following a full day of use. That’s about 17 hours from half a charge.
It’s much closer to 24 hours overall, depending on usage, and stretches further than any previous Apple Watch Series (or SE). With the Series 11, I can often push to a day and a half, or use fast charging to top up quickly.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)Beyond the bigger battery, the LTPO display helps conserve energy by dynamically adjusting brightness and refresh rate. During workouts, metrics update quickly, while in always-on mode, updates slow down to save power.
The S10 chip is still plenty powerful, with its dual-core CPU, GPU, and 4-core Neural Engine. Apps – both first-party (Notes, Photos, Maps, Mail) and third-party (Flighty, Tesla, Parcel, Carrot Weather) – all opened quickly and ran smoothly.
Battery efficiency on the LTE model also benefits from the new 5G antenna, which ensures fast performance as carriers phase out 4G. Messaging, app data, and calls all felt as quick as when paired to an iPhone. You can spot the antenna band on the underside.
The biggest difference generation over generation is endurance. With the Series 10, you needed to recharge before bed or in the morning if using sleep tracking. The Series 11 stretches that to a day and a half, which makes a real difference in daily use.
It still runs watchOS 26 swiftly and keeps up with competitors, while continuing to expand health and activity tracking. And with the return of blood oxygen monitoring in the US, it feels even more complete.
Performance is excellent – not night and day better than the Series 10, but the addition of a larger battery is a game changer.
- Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Value
Comparable to previous models.
4/5
Design
A sumptuous new screen and a new 5G antenna.
4/5
Features
watchOS 26 is stuffed with goodies.
4/5
Performance
Very good, with a battery that lasts longer than ever.
4.5/5
Buy it if…You have an older Apple Watch
If you've been waiting to upgrade until Apple rolled out longer battery life, for blood oxygen tracking to return in the US, or until your watch slowed down, now's a great time get a new oneView Deal
Don’t buy it if…You have an Apple Watch Series 10
Considering most of the new features are also coming to the Series 10 – Sleep Score, watchOS 26, and Hypertension Notifications – you're likely good to skip this yearView Deal
You don't need all the health features
The Apple Watch SE 3 is a lot cheaper and offers almost all of the same features aside from ECG, Hypertension, and Sleep Apnea, in a slightly bulkier build with an always-on display.View Deal
Apple Watch Series 11: How I TestedI've been reviewing Apple Watches, as well as smartwatches and fitness trackers as a whole, for many years, and I bought the very first Apple Watch back in 2014. Eleven years down the road, after unboxing the Apple Watch Series 11, I began setting it up and then wore it for a week to test it, and put it through its paces for this review.
I aimed to test every facet of the Series 11, including the new features such as the promised up to 24 hours of battery life, new functionality as part of watchOS 26, and the new Sleep Score feature. I also compared it against the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, as well as the new Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.
To test workouts, I completed several outdoor walks and runs as well as yoga and stretching, comparing metrics against those from other Apple Watches and the Oura Ring. Considering the wide-angle virtues of the display, I also tested the Series 11 in various viewing conditions.
Through my review period I aimed to use the Apple Watch Series 11 in the same way an average user would.
First reviewed September 2025.
Categories: Reviews
I wore the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for 5 days – and it’s a Garmin-rivaling powerhouse
You could say I’ve had a busy past few days – between rocking the AirPods Pro 3 and fully reviewing the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3, I’ve also been daily-driving the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
It’s finally a proper upgrade for the most rugged, go-anywhere, climb-every-mountain Apple Watch. In 2024, it got a slight spec bump and a fresh paint job, but for 2025 Apple’s really rounding out the Ultra 3 in a way that makes it a compelling upgrade for folks with the first or second generation Ultra, especially the former.
I’m still in the midst of testing, so consider this my review-in-progress, and my early impressions of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, beyond the environs of Apple Park and the launch event. TechRadar’s Senior Fitness & Wearables Editor Matt Evans – himself a smartwatch aficionado – will also be weighing in soon, putting the Ultra 3 (and himself) through a battery of fitness, health, and exercise tests.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price and availability- $799 in US
- £749 in UK
- AU$1,399
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for $799 / £749 / AU$1,399. This is the same price as its predecessor in most regions, although the Ultra 3 is slightly cheaper in the UK – the Apple Watch Ultra 2 cost £799 in the UK, so the Ultra 3 is better value there.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)- Same 49mm case as Ultra 2
- Slightly larger screen
- Recycled Natural or Black Titanium finishes
In the same way that Apple is sticking with the rounded 'squircle' look of previous iterations for its Series 11 smartwatch, it’s clear that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is sticking with its tried-and-tested design here. It still offers a supersized 49-millimeter display in a thicker, more durable titanium body.
The Ultra 3 comes in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, and I’ve been testing the latter, which looks especially sleek. You can pair it with a custom-match Ultra Milanese Loop – a personal favorite band of mine – with one of the new 2025 options, like the Trail Loop, which now features reflective material on the edges, or with older bands that fit the 49mm / 46mm / 44mm sizes.
One change Apple made here is using a 3D printing process to build the case from recycled titanium, though you won’t notice any difference in appearance. The display, however, is seriously improved. Like the Series 11 – and the Series 10 before it – the Ultra 3 now boasts an always-on Retina OLED display with an LTPO3 panel, giving it finer control over the refresh rate for additional smoothness in motion. This shines with watch faces like the new Flow, Waypoint, or Exactograph.
It also enables wide-angle viewing, so even when glancing to the side you have a better chance of reading what’s on the display – I’ve found this especially helpful when checking notifications with my arm extended or in low brightness. Apple has also slimmed down the bezels by 24% all around. While noticeable when comparing the Ultra 3 to the Ultra 2 side by side, it’s most apparent when viewing maps – like hiking trails – or photos on the 49mm display.
The Ultra 3’s display can flex its brightness from as high as 3,000 nits in peak sunlight to as low as 1 nit in darkness. Much of the interface uses the Liquid Glass design language introduced in watchOS 26; and even though it looks snappy, it’s also plenty fast for handling actions thanks to the S10 chip inside.
It still charges with the same magnetic puck included in the box, but now supports faster charging.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadar Apple Watch Ultra 3: Features and performance(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)- Emergency SOS instructions intuitive
- Satellite connectivity genuinely useful
- I'm loving the new Sleep Score software update
Satellite connectivity for communication makes a lot of sense on a device that you’re likely to be wearing into areas without cell service, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the first Apple Watch to support satellite connectivity.
The headline feature Apple announced at its September launch event was Emergency SOS via Satellite, and while I hope you never need it, I did get a demo at Apple Park. Much like the iPhone’s satellite connectivity, it walks you through the process of sending an alert: identifying the issue, guiding you on how to point your wrist for a satellite connection, packaging the info, sending it into orbit, and beaming a response back down.
In the demo, we triggered SOS on the Ultra 3 by dialing 911. Once it realized there was no grid connection, it began sending an emergency text via satellite. The watch guided us through a questionnaire – we selected “lost or trapped,” confirmed it was just us, and noted no active injuries. This is especially handy if you’re lost on a trail. As a final step, you can also notify emergency contacts.
The watch then instructed us to move our wrist left until it locked onto a satellite. At that point, it packaged the watch’s location, questionnaire details, and the linked medical ID. A relay center receives this data and can send messages back down.
This was, of course, a demo, but it shows how impressively the system works. Notably, it can sometimes transmit data without you moving your wrist, which could be helpful if it’s triggered as a backup during crash or fall detection.
Emergency SOS via Satellite is available for free for two years in the United States – though Apple has a history of extending that – and in the UK and Australia, it’s also free, along with the additional Find My features, which also operate via satellite. I was able to test Find My myself, but in the US, Find My and Messages require an active cellular plan.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)With Find My, you can send a basic message (with a character limit) via satellite and even update your Find My location. You’ll go through the same process of moving your Ultra 3 into the right path of a satellite as it passes overhead. With Find My, you’ll know the location was updated this way via a satellite icon on the map next to the person.
Satellite connectivity is a genuinely useful addition to the Ultra 3, and I’m keen to test the Messages and Find My functions more. Beyond this, the Ultra 3 also gets a number of new features as part of watchOS 26, including the Liquid Glass interface, new apps like Notes, and a new Wrist Flick gesture.
Just like the Series 11 and SE 3 – as well as some older models that can run watchOS 26 – the Ultra 3 also gets the new Sleep Score. This builds upon the watch’s ability to track sleep and detail time spent in each stage but now quantifies it with a score from 0 to 100. I’m really enjoying this feature so far, and it feels like it’s about time it arrived here.
The Ultra 3 also adds Hypertension Notifications, meaning that on a rolling 30-day basis, the watch can alert you to potential hypertension (high blood pressure) and recommends you see a doctor for a full diagnosis. This feature is FDA-approved for use in the US.
While the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is technically getting an upgrade to the S10 chip, it’s mostly a repackaged version of the S9 chip found in the Ultra 2. The good news is that the Ultra 3 still feels just as responsive as the other new Apple Watches and competing smartwatches on the market. I think you’d be hard-pressed to slow it down.
This is paired with a new 5G antenna and redesigned antenna band visible around the outer lip of the watch. Apple says it’s more efficient than the previous onboard antenna, and can use two bands at once when needed to improve reception.
Apple also redesigned the internals of the Ultra 3, and thanks to that, there’s a bigger battery inside. Apple rates the Ultra 3 for up to 42 hours with normal use, and I’ve easily been hitting a long day and a half with sleep tracking before noticing a meaningful drop in battery life. It’s simply a powerhouse, and I’ll be testing it more, including the Low Power Mode that can stretch runtime to a remarkable 72 hours.
Categories: Reviews
The PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller has brilliant lighting, but everything else left me wanting more
PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: One-minute review
If you’re after a wired Nintendo Switch 2 pad that comes in at a relatively low price and offers a decent range of features, then the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller is a solid choice, though far from any of the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers.
It features all the required Nintendo Switch 2 buttons, including the new C button for GameChat, plus two extra rear inputs that you can quickly remap without any software. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, compatible with many of the best gaming headsets or gaming earbuds, and offers three equalizer modes. They’re nothing groundbreaking, but a good inclusion at this price point.
I tested the ‘with Lumectra’ variant, which also boasts some pretty incredible RGB lighting that beautifully illuminates its entire faceplate. That’s aside from the giant red Nintendo Switch 2 logo that’s positioned right in the middle of the gamepad, which spoils the clean look. The lighting can be customized with a few pre-sets, or entirely personalized using four distinct lighting zones if you’re happy to spend time fiddling with the cumbersome button shortcuts.
The PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller also boasts Hall effect thumbsticks, which is great on paper and should mean this controller lasts quite some time. Sadly, the thumbsticks themselves aren’t the best and feel very loose in comparison to alternatives. Fine control is difficult, which isn't a huge issue when you’re playing a casual game such as Mario Kart World, but it is extremely annoying in a title like Splatoon 3, where accuracy really matters.
The top of the thumbsticks features a knobbly texture that’s rather harsh on the fingers too, leading to some soreness over prolonged periods of use. This won’t be a dealbreaker if you’re after something for player two, but for your main gamepad, consider more expensive alternatives like the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller or 8BitDo Ultimate 2.
You get what you pay for with this one.
(Image credit: Future)PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: Price and availability- Starts at $39.99 / £29.99
- Lumectra variant is $49.99 / £34.99
- It’s frequently on sale for much less
Buyers in the UK are getting a better deal on the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller, which starts at $39.99 / £29.99. That’s for the plain version. The Lumectra variant I tested goes for slightly more at $49.99 / £34.99.
This makes it a little cheaper than previous wireless options from the brand, such as the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller with Lumectra for the original Nintendo Switch.
These prices are frequently subject to discounts, though, especially if you’re not after a particular pattern. At the time of writing, the ‘Mario Time’ edition costs just $28.68 at Amazon in the US, while the black version is down to £24.99 at Smyths Toys in the UK.
Its wide availability means that it’s one of the cheapest Nintendo Switch 2 controllers that you can get at most retail stores, putting it firmly into impulse buy territory. If you’re shopping for a spare gamepad ahead of a multiplayer session, it’s going to be a really tempting option.
PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: SpecsPrice
Starts at $39.99 / £29.99
Weight
10.88oz / 300g
Dimensions
5.9 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 149 x 104 x 62mm
Compatibility
Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
Connection type
Wired
Battery life
N/A
PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: Design and features- Lightweight
- Lengthy 10ft USB cable
- Doesn’t feel premium
The PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller is extremely lightweight and doesn’t feel the most premium. It’s constructed from a basic, almost brittle plastic and seems hollow in the hands.
It doesn't help that there are a few spots where you can actually peer at the circuitry inside the controller, around the thumbsticks and triggers, for example, which is a little strange and will surely lead to dirt and dust accumulating inside in the long run.
That lightweight feel does at least mean that it’s comfortable in the hands, though, and even young children shouldn’t struggle to hold it for extended gaming sessions.
On the front of the controller, you’ll find the two thumbsticks and all the expected inputs. This includes the face buttons, d-pad, plus and minus (which are located towards the bottom), a home button, C button, and capture button. The thumbsticks use Hall effect components, which is a good sign, though unfortunately don’t feel very high quality. They offer practically no resistance, gliding around quickly and making them difficult to control precisely.
They’re also made from a hard, plastic-like material with little abrasive bumps that left my fingers feeling sore after a few hours of play.
(Image credit: Future)I tested the ‘With Lumectra’ version of the pad, which comes in a clean white. When plugged in, the face plate illuminates brightly thanks to loads of hidden LEDs in an impressive rainbow effect.
PowerA really knows how to make good RGB lighting without breaking the bank, and it leads to a very attractive-looking controller. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat spoiled by the giant Nintendo Switch 2 logo that’s been awkwardly slapped in a giant red square in the middle of the pad.
It clashes with the lighting effects and looks incredibly weird and out of place. Luckily, if you’re buying the cheaper regular version of the controller, you won’t need to worry about this, as the logo comes in more reasonable colors, like a dark grey on the black colorway.
On the back of the controller are the two remappable buttons, customized by holding a small program button next to them. There’s also a button to control the LED lighting, plus a dedicated audio button that cycles through EQ presets when you have headphones plugged in via the 3.5mm jack. There’s a standard preset, plus a bass boost and an ‘immersive’ option.
The only other thing of note is a small LED bar towards the bottom of the controller. It can be easy to miss with all the lighting turned on, but it’s a clean white when the controller is on and blinks blue when you’re remapping buttons.
As a wired gamepad, the controller is only usable when connected to the Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 via a USB Type-C cable. A 10-foot-long PowerA-branded cable is included in the box, which should be long enough for most setups.
(Image credit: Future)PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: Performance- Gets the job done
- Ideal as a spare gamepad
- Thumbsticks could be better
At the end of the day, the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller gets the job done. If you’re after a cheap controller to use when you’re playing with a friend or to give to a child, then it performs as you would expect for the price. The buttons aren’t the most tactile, but they are perfectly responsive to press, and the d-pad is a decent size and easy to use.
The plug-and-play compatibility makes the controller incredibly easy to set up, and the ability to tweak the rear button mapping or lighting effects without the need for any software is handy - though the process of doing this is cumbersome even with the instruction manual on hand.
(Image credit: Future)The biggest area for improvement is easily the thumbsticks. As I already mentioned, they’re harsh on the finger and could really do with being made from a much softer material. They’re also quite loose, which makes them a poor fit for games that require precision.
Don’t get me wrong, they’re perfectly usable still, but they hardly compare to those offered by more expensive controllers such as the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller It’s the one thing that really stops the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller from netting a more enthusiastic recommendation, given its modest price tag.
The addition of a 3.5mm jack is useful for voice chat, as it allows you to connect a pair of earbuds or headphones with a microphone. The three EQ settings are also nifty.
The standard and bass boost options are self-explanatory, while the ‘Immersive’ preset subtly increases both low and high-end sounds. Is it particularly immersive? Not really, but it’s still fun to play around with and might even help a cheap headset sound a little bit better.
(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller?Buy it if…You love the lighting
The Lumectra version of the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller has some stand-out lighting. It’s worth getting if you want a cheap pad with some impressive RGB.
You want something cheap that gets the job done
The PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller makes the most sense as a spare gamepad. It’s worth picking up if you want a controller to keep on hand for impromptu co-op play.
You want to use it for a long time
If you want to use a controller for extended periods of time, you’re much better off with the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller or even just the Joy-Con 2 controllers that come with your console.
You need something wireless
The 10ft cable included here is going to be long enough for most setups, but if you sit further away from your TV then you should look at wireless options.
PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
8BitDo Ultimate 2
Price
Starts at $39.99 / £29.99
$84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95
$69.99 / £59.99 / AU$90 (or $59.99 / £49.99 for PC-only model)
Weight
10.88oz / 200g
8.3oz / 235g
8.7oz / 246g
Dimensions
5.9 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 149 x 104 x 62mm
5.8 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 148 x 105 x 60mm
5.7 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 147 x 103 x 61mm
Compatibility
Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
PC, Android (Switch/Switch 2 version sold separately)
Connection type
Wired
Bluetooth, USB Type-C
2.4GHz, Bluetooth, USB Type-C
Battery life
N/A
Around 40 hours
10-15 hours
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is easily the best gamepad for Nintendo’s latest console right now. It feels incredibly premium and boasts loads of features, but that is reflected by its high price tag.
Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review
8BitDo Ultimate 2
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 is cheaper than the official offering, but more expensive than the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller. For your money, you get a wireless pad that feels much more premium and even comes with a charging dock.
Read our full 8BitDo Ultimate 2 review
(Image credit: Future)How I tested the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller- Tested for over two weeks
- Tried with a wide range of games
- Compared to other Switch and Switch 2 controllers
I tested the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller for over two weeks, trying it with a range of Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games, including the likes of Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition, and more.
Throughout my time with the controller, I compared it to my hands-on testing of other Nintendo gamepads, including the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and Joy-Con 2.
First reviewed September 2025
Categories: Reviews
Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush is a fun little add-on, but I still think it should've been a free update
Had Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush been released as a free update, I would be singing its praises.
Review infoPlatform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: September 12, 2025
After all, if I had one complaint with Donkey Kong Bananza in the weeks since it launched, it’s that there’s no real reason to keep coming back for more after the credits roll, and this new downloadable content (DLC) expansion remedies that somewhat by bringing back the fan-favorite Donkey Kong Island and introducing a replayable side mode to dive into.
It’s an enjoyable diversion for a couple of hours and gives you a delightful excuse to rediscover some of the best locations from the main game, but for $19.99 / £16.99, the content on offer is just too slim to fully recommend.
That’s the exact same price as the recently launched Drag X Drive and most Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades, not to mention indie titans like Hollow Knight: Silksong if you venture outside the first-party catalog - all of which would be better value purchases.
Switching sides(Image credit: Nintendo)The entirety of DK Island & Emerald Rush takes place after the main game, with the new DK Island layer appearing the next time you visit the Eelevator. Situated on the surface, a short distance from Ingot Isle, the map is a novel interpretation of how the setting appeared in the original Donkey Kong Country. It’s a joy to explore for a little bit, with memorable landmarks like Donkey Kong’s little hit and the massive Kong head-shaped volcano sure to delight long-time fans.
There’s loads of gold to hoover up, particularly in the smattering of small challenge levels hidden in its various nooks and crannies, which makes it all feel like a fitting celebration now that you’ve finished the game.
Unfortunately, there’s very little to do beyond exploration. There are a few locations clearly designed for taking screenshots in the photo mode with the likes of Diddy Kong and Cranky Kong, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that there’s no real progression like a standard Bananza stage. There aren’t even any enemies to defeat, which leaves it all feeling rather empty.
Most of your time on DK Island is clearly meant to be spent in the Emerald Rush mode, accessed by visiting Void Kong on a wrecked piledriver adjacent to the island. There’s a sliver of story content, with Donkey Kong and Pauline unwillingly drafted into joining Void Company in order to collect a new emerald substance, and then you’re thrust straight into it.
(Image credit: Nintendo)In the mode, you run around a past level in which all of the existing gold has been turned into bright green emerald. Your task is to smash through it quickly and hoover up as much as possible within ten timed rounds, meeting a certain threshold in each in order to continue into the next.
Void Kong feeds you objectives as you go, which usually boil down to defeating some special green enemies that have spawned on the map or completing a quick task like dipping yourself in water or using a nearby barrel launcher.
Completing objectives or collecting one of the now green Fossils or Banandium gems lets you choose a perk, mainly centered around increasing your rate of Emerald collection.
There are a decent number of them, and they stack in interesting ways, leading to some satisfying rogue-like progression. On one run, for example, each enemy I defeated at full health would result in a deluge of Emerald thanks to multiple similar bonuses, and on another, I earned hundreds of times the usual reward for each completed objective.
Climbing the corporate ladder(Image credit: Nintendo)Finishing Emerald Rush runs awards Banandium Chips that can be spent placing statues of characters on DK Island.
There's no real way to interact with these statues beyond bashing or throwing them, so this whole addition feels completely superfluous unless your idea of enjoyment is tossing around an inanimate idol of Squarks the Parrot.
Best bit(Image credit: Nintendo)The new clothing items here are really strong. My favorite new addition equips Donkey Kong with a swinging Void Co employee badge - complete with an adorable picture of him and Pauline.
Thankfully, there is a much meatier progression system tied to your current employee rating, which increases with each successful run. Working your way up the ranks gives you the chance to return to other past maps (there are a total of six), puts new perks into rotation, and unlocks some cool Void Co outfits to wear.
Beyond messing around with the option to increase the difficulty of each Emerald Rush run, which raises the required quota to progress and removes some starting abilities, there’s really not much else to this DLC, and you’re going to have had your fill after just a few hours. The perks add plenty of variety, but many of the objectives in Emerald Rush are quite samey and mean that it gets stale before you’ve even managed to max out your employee level.
What’s here certainly isn’t terrible by any means and does successfully extend the game’s overall runtime, particularly if you want to unlock everything, but it’s not unreasonable to expect something more substantial at this price.
(Image credit: Nintendo)Should I play Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush?Play it if…You’re really craving more Bananza
It might not be the most substantial addition, but DK Island & Emerald Rush does successfully extend the run time of Donkey Kong Bananza - especially if you’re eager to unlock everything.
You love the Donkey Kong series
There’s not much going on in the recreation of DK Island, but revisiting the setting will still be a lot of fun if you’re a long-time Donkey Kong fan.
You want a meaty experience
The DK Island layer has a lot less to do than any of the layers in the base game, and the Emerald Rush mode becomes samey after a while. You’re better off spending your money on something else if you’re looking for a long-lasting experience.
As an expansion, Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush has the same suite of accessibility features as the base game. This means you can access an assist mode, which makes the game easier overall, in addition to the various difficulty options for each Emerald Rush run.
Camera controls can also be inverted, and your main actions can be customized using some presets. Subtitles are enabled by default.
How I reviewed Donkey Kong BananzaI spent over three hours in the DK Island & Emerald Rush expansion using a Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode using the standard Joy-Con 2 controllers and the system’s built-in speakers.
Having written our Donkey Kong Bananza review, I compared my experience to that of the base game and carefully considered the value for money offered by this DLC compared to other Nintendo releases and various Nintendo Switch 2 games.
First reviewed September 2025
Categories: Reviews
Hollow Knight: Silksong is a masterful, daring follow-up that’s destined to be misunderstood for years to come
Long-awaited metroidvania game Hollow Knight: Silksong is already proving to be a victim of its own success.
The unbearable hype surrounding its storefront-destroying launch, combined with the simultaneous release into the eager hands of both critics and players, has created a uniquely voracious narrative.
There’s a sense that one must devour Silksong all at once, or else risk being left behind and out of the loop on what is surely one of the biggest gaming events of the decade so far.
The problem is, Silksong is not a game to be binged. It’s a sprawling, complicated, and brilliant sequel that demands patience above all else. Only then does it fully reveal itself as a game that’s much more than the conversations around difficulty would have you believe.
Review informationPlatform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: September 4, 2025
Not even two weeks into its life, developer Team Cherry’s Silksong has largely been misrepresented and mislabelled as an impossibly difficult and sadistic continuation of 2017’s brilliant Hollow Knight. Of course, Silksong is a very challenging game; I agree with that wholeheartedly. It’s so much more than that, though.
As the dust settles, and now looking back on my first completed playthrough, I believe it’s going to take years for the collective player hivemind to truly unpack exactly what Silksong does well, and where it falters.
Rough starts and Bellharts(Image credit: Team Cherry)I made the decision to play the first five hours of Hollow Knight alongside those of Silksong’s. This is where the two games differ most drastically. Hollow Knight is much more generous with checkpoints, resources, and clear tutorial sections than Silksong.
Enemies hit hard from the get-go in the sequel, while Hollow Knight gives you some softball encounters to practice on before its first proper boss fight. These are very different games, diverging from one another almost immediately and taking very different paths towards completely different conclusions.
The opening hours of Silksong are likely to be where players find the most friction. Enemies frequently deal two full health segments of damage, though you’ll have more freedom in how you heal thanks to main protagonist Hornet’s increased speed and aerial options. Instead of a simple down attack, Hornet dives in diagonal needle drops. This in itself requires hours to master, and it’s made very clear that bouncing between enemies without touching the ground is the strongest strategy available to you at first.
Your main special resource in Silksong is the silk meter, which is primarily filled by hitting enemies. Upon collecting enough silk, you’ll need to make a quick decision: heal, or unleash a special attack to hopefully end a fight earlier. Risk vs reward is hammered home again and again in Silksong, and it's the first few hours where you’ll need to experiment with how you want to play. Eventually, you’ll get to the first town area, learn how to purchase items from merchants, and the currencies that you’ll have to focus on seeking out.
Rosaries are the main ones, but they’re also lost upon death, wrapped in a cocoon that must be retrieved in order to get them back. Shell Shards are somewhat supplementary, used to craft tools and open up your combat options.
My wallet is filled with moths(Image credit: Team Cherry)The economy between Rosaries and Shards is a tricky one to make the best use of. Silksong doesn’t give you many opportunities to get Rosaries consistently until a few hours in, while Shards aren’t particularly useful until you’ve bought tools and crafting kits from later merchants.
Tools become vital against flying enemies, bosses, and mobs of enemies, leading to one of the game’s key frustrations. To craft tools, you need Shards. To reliably purchase Shards, you must earn Rosaries, which come from exploring or, more reliably, killing enemies.
Many of the difficulty spikes I hit in Silksong completely cleared out my tools. I’d then have to travel elsewhere to farm Rosaries just to have enough tools to have another go at what was besting me. It’s reminiscent of the awful Blood Vial farming required for some bosses in Bloodborne, taking the player away from the action for repetitive bouts of repeated enemy hunting.
Unfortunately, this never really goes away in Silksong, and if anything, it becomes more common as you progress. The Shard vs Rosary reward balancing is ever so slightly off, making certain areas more and more difficult to progress through.
Shall we take a detour?
(Image credit: Team Cherry)Silksong offers the same approach to problem-solving as seen in Elden Ring and its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, in that you’re supposed to go and find something else to do when a perceived skill wall presents itself. Silksong’s map is vast, and much of it is completely optional.
Best bit(Image credit: Team Cherry)The Needolin is an upgrade that turns Hornet’s needle into a musical instrument. You simply hold down a button, and Hornet plays along to nearby or ambient music. It’s used to unlock secret doors, interact with NPC events, and even open up new paths that are linked to the final ending of the game. It’s very ambiguous as to what the Needolin can interact with, so experimenting while exploring becomes its own intriguing side quest. I bet there’s even more the Needolin can do, and it’s going to take players years to find out all of its hidden functions.
Many times, I’d find myself throwing Hornet into the same repeated encounter, as I grew increasingly tired of losing the same fight over and over. At a certain point, however, it clicked that I simply needed to open up the map, look for new paths, and follow them forward. Every single time I did this, I happened upon something that made my build stronger – be that secret bundles of Rosaries, new move sets and upgrades, or non-player characters (NPCs) that could be brought into particular fights alongside Hornet. I developed a mantra to live by: if a section took me more than five tries, I needed to go somewhere else.
Once I opened myself up to Silksong’s non-linear progression paths, I started to meet less friction. Side quests are smart new additions that gently nudge players towards points of interest: An old town built into caves of gold, silver, and bronze bells; a decrepit medical wing filled with Lovecraftian horrors and a few allies to meet; a new encounter at the starting village that changes its topography and makes use of music to deliver sorrowful worldbuilding.
Playing Silksong makes me feel itchy; I’m not sure how else to describe it. Anyone else who spent their childhood wandering around rain-soaked woodland and muddy river banks will know the feeling. You find a rotten piece of wood, roll it over, and jump back at the writhing cities of grubs, bugs, and spiders you’ve unearthed.
Stepping into every new area always feels like a log turned over. You’ll hear the scritch-scratch of tiny legs from somewhere in the shadows. Tiny gnats will whine nasally as you approach. There’s a griminess to Silksong’s initial zones that’s made all the more potent by the golden gleam and religious opulence of late-game areas.
All of this is achieved in a 2D game, mind you. Somehow, Team Cherry has managed to make even the simplest passages feel thick with dirt, fog, and dust. Light is expertly used to add extra volume and scale to the standard side-scrolling formula used in other modern Metroidvanias.
In comparison, the map is one area where there’s been the least innovation. You still need to purchase them before you’ll see certain areas; there’s still a Compass that takes up a Crest slot, and pins can be used to mark key information.
Given the added variety and scale of Silksong, it’s unfortunate that the map isn’t really up to the task of leading you through the game. There frankly needs to be more information on NPCs, added options for pin types, and a reworking of the way the compass works to measure up to the changes made in this sequel.
Sting like a Hornet(Image credit: Team Cherry)Playing as Hornet is a wildly different experience when compared to the silent Knight of the first game. Hornet has dialogue. She’s confident, empathetic, and sternly protective of her personal space. There’s also a concerted effort to contextualize Hornet within the world of Pharloom. You get the impression that she has a personal connection to the bugs you meet, and a genuine desire to help them.
I’m impressed by how well-rounded Hornet is as a protagonist, which makes the combat and boss fights all the more impactful. Silksong is once again filled with an expansive lore and world history. Having Hornet be a part of that lore is a master stroke that elevates the sequel above the first game.
Let’s dance(Image credit: Team Cherry)Silksong is at its best when you’re fighting a boss. Every single one is memorable: equal parts deadly and stunning, with clear design motifs bolstered by bespoke musical accompaniment. Many of the boss battles are intricately choreographed affairs. One early game fight with a needle-wielding foe plays out like a synchronized dance routine, all death-defying dives and sparking slashes of sharpened steel.
I’m struggling to remember another game that’s so filled with best-in-class bosses as Silksong. With enough patience and a bit of time spent exploring for upgrades, none of them feel unfair. The loop of slowly learning patterns and then executing daring counters is what all great boss fights are about. Silskong delivers again and again and again in this respect. I can’t wait to jump back in and face the gauntlet of bosses with new tactics, builds, and strategies, and there isn’t a single boss I’ll be skipping in a second playthrough.
Silksong is every bit the sequel that Hollow Knight deserves. It’s the spoils of a team going the extra mile. It’s challenging, yes, but take your time and explore the vast world of Pharloom, and you’ll be rewarded with yet another masterpiece. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Team Cherry, as it’ll never be a team that settles on delivering ‘just more Hollow Knight’.
Should you play Silksong?Play it if...You’re looking for a challenging, but rewarding 2D side-scrolling action game
Take your time with it, look up the locations of extra health and other upgrades if you need. This one can be beaten, and even if there is a part you can’t beat, just go and explore somewhere else, preferably via side quests.
You’re a fan of Hollow Knight
While Silksong is a very different game from its predecessor, there’s the same emphasis on dazzling boss battles, subtle world-building, and rewarding exploration. You don’t need to have cleared Hollow Knight’s hardest tasks to jump into the sequel, though you may find some added fun exploring Silksong with at least a passing knowledge of the first game’s story and lore.
Boss fights are your one true love
Silksong has perhaps the best suite of boss fights in any game I’ve ever played. There’s a firework-shooting showman, a dance-themed fight with mechanical cog-robots, and even tense 1v1 showdowns with needle-wielding warriors.
You don’t have time to fully submit to Silksong’s non-linear structure
Silksong is a game that’s very easy to get lost in. You can find yourself repeatedly banging your head against a wall, unless you have the time and desire to venture off the beaten path. You can beat Silksong in 30 hours, though it’ll be infinitely more difficult, and a lot less rewarding, if you just rush through the main path.
Silksong offers the option to turn off camera shake and customize HUD size. There are audio sliders for individual tracks, and you can remap controls. This is a very limited offering, with no color blind, difficulty, or repeated button input options available.
How I reviewed SilksongMy first playthrough of Silksong lasted 36 hours, and I spent a while doing every side quest available before the final boss fight, not counting courier missions. I still haven’t explored the two final sections of the map, and there are plenty of secrets and locked doors I didn’t get to before the end of the credits. I played Hollow Knight back in 2018, completing the main story and some of the first DLC. I intend to go back and play Silksong a second time, focusing on a different Crest, and making use of a completely different set of tools.
I played Silksong on Nintendo Switch 2, making use of the 120Hz mode when docked. The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller was perfect for this game, though d-pad users may want to go for an alternative controller (the d-pad on the Pro 2 is very subpar when compared to other options like the 8BitDo Ultimate).
I ran Silksong on my LG UltraGear 4K gaming monitor (27GR93U), making use of the extra refresh rate options. Generally, I played Silksong docked, though I did play about five hours handheld.
First reviewed September 2025
Categories: Reviews
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